Tags:
Journalism of Courage
MUMBAI, OCT 6: Though the performance of the Sena-BJP alliance in the Lok Sabha polls was spectacular, it was unable to make similar gains in the assembly elections leading to uncertainty over formation of the next government.
A quick glance at the results as well as trends available reveals that the alliance took the Konkan, Vidarbha and Marathwada region by storm, but could not maintain the same performance for the assembly polls in these regions except in Mumbai and Konkan. The Nationalist Congress Party, launched by rebel Congress leader Sharad Pawar too failed to make any cognisable impact in any part of the state including his stronghold and sugar rich Western Maharashtra.
Significantly, the crisis-ridden Congress made an impressive comeback, at least in the assembly polls. The alliance nominees have won in all the six Lok Sabha constituencies, the results of which were declared so far, while it was in a comfortable position in 16 seats.
Former Chief Minister and Manohar Joshi was declared electedfrom Mumbai North Central, Mohan Rawale from South Central, Anant Gite from Ratnagiri (all SS) Union Minister of State for Railways Ram Naik from North Mumbai, Jaywanti Mehta from South Mumbai and Kirit Somaiyya from North East (all BJP).
Congress suffered a major setback in Mumbai with the unexpected defeat of Murli Deora from South Mumbai. Gurudas Kamat too lost from North East. Among others, film star turned politician Sunil Dutt was ahead of his nearest rival and Sena nominee Madhukar Sarpotdar in Mumbai North West constituency by a margin of 45055 votes. Veteran RPI leaders R S Gavai and Prakash Ambedkar were trailing against their rivals Anant Gudhe and Pandurang Phundkar from Amravati and Akola parliamentary constituencies. Another RPI leader Ramdas Athavale was leading by a comfortable margin in the reserved Pandharpur parliamentary constituency.
In the remaining parliamentary constituencies, Congress was leading in seven, Shiv Sena in nine, BJP in five, Nationalist Congress Party in five and PWPin one. So far as the assembly constituencies are concerned, Shiv Sena was leading in 39, BJP in 30, Congress in 52, NCP in 30 and independents in 14.
As per the trends available, it would be difficult for the Sena-BJP alliance to form the government on its own. In the last assembly elections, when it had won 137 seats, it had to take help of the independents to form the government. While the Sena-BJP alliance has already launched a massive exercise to form the government with the help of like-minded parties, the Congress has also initiated steps to restrain the alliance from marching towards power.
