BJP Snatches Seat from NCP in Maharashtra

In a setback to the ruling Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) in Maharashtra, BJP candidate Samadhan Autade on Sunday received the by-election to Pandharpur-Mangalvedha Assembly seat in Solapur district by defeating his nearest NCP rival by a margin of over 3,700 votes, officers mentioned. Autade defeated Bhagirath Bhalke, son of late NCP MLA Bharat Bhalke, who was fielded by the MVA.

NCP shares energy with Shiv Sena and Congress in the Uddhav Thackeray-led MVA authorities. The NCP and opposition BJP have been in a direct battle in this bypoll, which was necessitated following the dying of Bharat Bhalke because of post-COVID-19 problems in November final 12 months.

As per the district election officers, Autade defeated Bhalke by a margin of three,733 votes. While Autade polled 1,09,450 votes, Bhalke bagged 1,05,717. A complete of two,27,421 votes, together with postal ballots, have been counted, they mentioned.

After the ballot outcomes have been declared, BJP employees have been seen celebrating the victory in the temple city of Pandharpur, regardless of a ban on gatherings in view of the COVID-19.