‘Want to congratulate State Election Commission for ensuring victory of ruling parties’: Maharashtra Congress Chief Harshavardhan Sapkal

Sapkal said he was worried about the fate of the NCP and the Shiv Sena in Mahayuti. “The BJP will now show the door to Shiv Sena and the NCP… The BJP is adept at breaking parties and using money and muscle to gain power. I want to congratulate the BJP for its devious means. The three-party alliance has come together for the sake of power. The BJP is known for dumping partners, as its avowed slogan was ‘cent per cent BJP’. And they are heading in that direction,” he added.

Sapkal further said, “While campaigning across Maharashtra, we knew what result would come in view of the use of money and muscle power… unfortunately, in these elections, all kinds of illegal activities were seen. Besides, everyone saw the misuse of a huge amount of money to buy votes.”

Asked about the alleged lack of coordination in the Maha Vikas Aghadi, Sapkal said, “This election was the election of party workers. While deciding about alliances in the local body elections, we had given all the powers to the local leadership. Wherever possible, we had an alliance, and where it was not possible, we fought elections on our own… Our policy regarding giving powers to local leadership will continue in the municipal corporations as well.”

Talking about the party’s strategy for the forthcoming Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections, Sapkal said, “Yesterday (Saturday), we held a meeting regarding Mumbai elections. We have decided to go solo in Mumbai. The party leadership has approved it.”

According to the latest reports, the BJP has taken a lead with 127 seats, while the Shiv Sena is ahead in 53 and the NCP in 32 seats. Together, the ruling Mahayuti alliance is leading in about 212 urban local bodies. In contrast, the MVA is leading in just 53 municipal councils and nagar panchayats – with the Congress ahead in 36, the Shiv Sena (UBT) in nine, and the Sharad Pawar-led NCP (SP) in eight.