Photo: Amit Gorkhe/ X

By Amika

Pune: THE Maharashtra Congress had been claiming that all three candidates fielded by the Maha Vikas Aghadi will win the State Legislative Council Elections. But it was Congress MLAs who left down the Maha Vikas Aghadi.

The claim made by the Congress fell flat on its face as out of the three MVA candidates, one lost and lost badly.

The one who lost badly was Jayant Patil heads the Peasants and Workers Party. He was backed by the NCP led by Sharad Pawar.

Congress leaders had been claiming that they had a strategy in place and have made their calculations and all their candidates will win. ''We have a good strategy in place to get all candidates elected,'' Congress spokesperson Atul Londhe had been telling reporters.

Of the three candidates fielded by MVA Milind Narvekar was the first to secured the mandatory 23 votes which was followed by Pradnya Satav of the Congress.

All nine Mahayuti candidates won a handsome victory. In fact, all five BJP candidates received 26 votes, three more than the required number. 

Among the Mahayuti candidates who won include the fiesty Pankaja Munde, the only strong woman leader BJP has in Maharashtra.

Amit Gorkhe, who is sort of an education baron in Pimpri-Chinchwad, was another candidate who has become the MLC. He is the first from Matang Community to become an MLC.

Yogesh Tilekar, a former BJP MP from Hadapsar, has also become the MLC. He is the OBC face of BJP.

Dr Prinay Phuke and farmer leader Sadabhau Khot are other BJP candidates who won.

Amidst all this, the Congress was the biggest loser though it candidate won. At least seven of is voted in favour of Mahayuti candidates.

Deputy Chief Ministes Devendra Fadnavis and Ajit Pawar, both openly, declared that Mahayuti was benefited by votes from MVA. ''We had 42 votes of MLAs of our won but our two candidates received 5 more votes,'' said Ajit Pawar.

Fadnavis said,''All our votes were in tact and we received some votes from the Maha Vikas Aghadi as well.''

On his part, Chief Minister Eknath Shinde taunted MVA,''Their wickets tumbled. This is a trailer for assembly elections.''

Shiv Sena (UBT) spokesperson Sanjay Raut however said,''The seven MLAs of Congress who cross voted have already left the party. They are with the party only for namesake.''

Congress is upset with the development. ''Our party will take action against those who cross-voted,'' said Londhe.