Nagpur (Maharashtra) [India], January 16 : Maharashtra Minister and BJP leader Chandrashekhar Bawankule hailed the "double-engine" government for BJP-Shiv Sena's emerging victory in the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections, stating that the people voted for the development of the city.
Expressing confidence, Bawankule claimed that the BJP will win a two-thirds majority across 29 Municipal Corporations.
Addressing a press conference in Nagpur, the BJP leader said, "I believe the BJP will win two-thirds of the majority in the state. People have shown trust in Devendra Fadnavis and Eknath Shinde's Mahayuti and Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led double-engine government. People in Mumbai have voted for development. Devendra Fadnavis has prepared the vision for development in Mumbai. Metro railway, Coastal Road... Both (state and Centre) governments believe in developing the city."
According to the latest trends, the BJP and Shiv Sena were leading in 126 seats, with the BJP emerging as the largest party, leading on 97 seats in the BMC polls. Shiv Sena (UBT) was leading on 61 seats while its ally MNS on eight seats. Congress was leading on 13 seats, while NCP (SP) was ahead on just one seat.
Further, hitting back at Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut's allegation of malfunctioning Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs), Bawankule said, "The machine is good where Raj and Uddhav Thackeray's candidates won? People only care about development."
As Congress leads over the BJP in the Latur Municipal Corporation elections, Bawankule stated that the party will "contemplate" the loss.
"We have suffered loss in Latur, we have won 22, while Congress got more than 40 seats. We will contemplate it," the Maharashtra minister said.
In Latur, the BJP was leading on 22 seats, while the Congress was ahead on 43 of the total 70 seats.