The results of the recently held gram panchayat elections in Maharashtra are out, with the state’s ruling Mahayuti alliance outstripping the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi. About 1,350 gram panchayats out of a total 2,359 and 450 sarpanch seats have been effectively won by the Mahyuti comprising the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), chief minister Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena, and Ajit Pawar faction of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP). While the gram panchayat elections are not fought on party symbols, the polls show what people at the grassroots are thinking and who they are supporting.
Speaking with the media on the outcome of the elections, minister of industries Uday Samant said, “The chief minister of Maharashtra Eknath Shinde has given a new direction of development to the state in 15 months and created a special place in the minds of every person of the state. Today, the flag of Mahayuti has been hoisted on 1,300 gram panchayats in Maharashtra, 450 sarpanches have been elected, which means that 70% of the results are in favour of the Mahayuti.”
CM Shinde responded with development to the opposition’s criticism and the people of Maharashtra voted in favour of development, he said. “The opposition said that we won this election because there was no symbol, but if we can win 70% of seats without any symbol, then the opposition should also think about what we can do with a bow and arrow. We are never afraid of elections. We fought the elections and won the trust of the people, while Uddhav Thackeray took his party to the sixth position in Maharashtra,” said Samant.
Kalyan MP Shrikant Shinde, who is the son of the chief minister, said that the people have shown their faith in the work done in the last 15 months by the Mahayuti government under CM Eknath Shinde and deputy chief ministers Devendra Fadnavis and Ajit Pawar. “Programmes like Shasan Aplya Dari (government at your doorstep) have helped many people get their problems solved, due to which the people of the state have given us a place in their hearts. In the last year, our grand coalition government has done the work of providing benefits to crores of people under the same scheme. We have also given 50% discount in state transport buses to women and free travel for senior citizens across the state.”
He added that the people of the state have benefited from the welfare schemes started by the ruling dispensation. “The central government decided to help farmers by depositing Rs 6,000 each in their account. On the same lines, the state government also facilitated an additional Rs 6,000, which makes a total of Rs 12,000 to be given to a farmer. So far, a total of 12,000 crore rupees has been deposited in farmers’ accounts,” the MP said. He also praised the Shinde government for having an insurance scheme for only one rupee because of which many farmers have been able to insure their farms.
Shrikant Shinde also attacked the Uddhav Thackeray-led MVA government. “The previous governments only made promises, but our grand coalition government has only worked for the development of the people. Today’s result has shown that the people of Maharashtra want politics of development and not criticism and taunts. We are confident that for the Lok Sabha election, more than 45 seats will be won under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the state,” he said.
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