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As Congress MLAs cross-vote, Mahayuti makes the cut; Pune’s Tilekar and Gorkhe win
Tilekar is a former BJP MLA from Hadapsar. He was elected in 2014. However, he lost the 2019 elections

AS WIDELy anticipated, all nine Mahayuti candidates today raced to victory in the first round of counting of votes for Maharashtra State Legislative Council polls. At the same time, speculations of Congress MLAs cross-voting turned out to be true as of the three candidates two won, which included Milind Narvekar of Sena (UBT).
”We will check who cross-voted and will take action against them,” said Congress spokesperson, as it emerged that at least five Congress MLAs had voted in favour of Mahayuti candidates.
NCP (Ajit Pawar) seemed to be the biggest beneficiary as two of their candidates received an additional five votes.
”We had 40 MLAs of our own, besides the support from two independent candidates. However, we received an additional five votes. I want to thank all those who gave us additional votes,” said Dy CM Ajit Pawar.
As per sources, Milind Narvekar’s victory was apparently possible because of his proximity to BJP leaders. Narvekar was fielded by Sena (UBT) on the last day of filing nominations. Jayant Patil of Peasants and Workers Party, backed by NCP (SP), was the lone candidate who lost.
Yogesh Tilekar of Pune was the first one to secure 23 mandatory votes. Tilekar is a former BJP MLA from Hadapsar. He was elected in 2014, but lost 2019 elections, wherein NCP’s Chetan Tupe won.
BJP candidate Amit Gorkhe from Pimpri-Chinchwad also won. Gorkhe, who is close to Dy CM Devendra Fadnavis, is a Matang community leader.
Congress candidate Pradnya Satav, widow of Congress leader Rajiv Satav, was re-elected today.
Firebrand BJP leader Pankaja Munde, who recently lost the Beed Lok Sabha seat, also won. Another BJP candidate to emerge victorious was Dr Prinay Phuke who secured 26. Panjaka Munde has made it to the State Legislature after five years.
Two candidates from NCP (Ajit group) — Shivajirao Garje and Rajesh Vitekar — both won decisively. “I am very happy.
These wins are bigger than my Lok Sabha victory. There are invisible powers who carry on supporting us. This was a trailer to the State Assembly elections. Our MLAs have shown our opponents their place. I am proud of my MLAs,” said a jubilant Sunil Tatkare, State president of NCP. Sena’s Bhawana Gawli and Krupal Tumane also won. ”Congress must be feeling the agony,” CM Eknath Shinde said in the State Assembly, while taking a jibe at the Congress.
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