THE Congress suffered a setback in Kolhapur when the BJP-led Mahayuti stormed to power for the first time in the Kolhapur Municipal Corporation. However, Congress emerged as the largest party in the KMC, with 35 seats, while the BJP was second with 25 seats.
“We put up a hard fight but could not succeed. A little more effort and I think we would have easily returned to power. I want to thank the people of Kolhapur for reposing faith in us the way they did. We emerged as the largest party and we reflected the trust that people have in the Congress,” Congress MP Satej Patil, who led the party’s campaign in Kolhapur, told this newspaper.
The Congress had ruled the Kolhapur Municipal Corporation for 25 years. Although the KMC was born in 1972, the elections were not held on party symbols. They were sponsored by political parties. It was Congress that had ruled all along.
Of the 81 seats, Congress won 35, BJP 25, Shiv Sena 15 and NCP. The Mahayuti had fought the elections together.
In western Maharashtra, Kolhapur was the only city where the Congress was betting heavily on returning to power. In PunePimpri-Chinchwad, Ahilyanagar, Satara, Congress has almost been decimated.
Patil said that although they lost power, their fight will continue. “We will continue to fight for the people of Kolhapur… We will keep the KMC alert and continue to raise people’s issues from time to time. We will continue to support the people of Kolhapur. Our fight will continue,” he said.
Patil said at least two prabhags made a mistake in allocating a seat to their alliance partner Shiv Sena (UBT). “I think we have made some mistakes. Otherwise, we would have returned to power…” he said.
Story continues below this ad.
After the results, there were speculations that the NCP and Congress would join hands. However, NCP minister Hassan Mushrif ruled out such a possibility. “We will remain with the Mahayuti,” he told reporters.
BJP MP Dhananjay Mahadik said, “In the past, the BJP used to have a single corporator. This success is very important for the party. We will have our own mayor… I had said that the Congress would meet at home after January 15. My words have come true… Whatever happens in Delhi “It’s happening at the local level, too,” he said.
Among the winners in the KMC poll are Rajesh Latkar, Ruturaj Kshirsagar, son of MLA Rajesh Kshirsagar, Satyajit Jadhav, son of MLA Jayshree Jadhav, Ashkin Aajrekar, winner of former mayor Nilofer Aajrekar and NCP city chief Aadil Faras.
The big losers include former BJP municipal chief Rahul Chikode, Prakash Naiknaware and Ajit More.
Story continues below this ad.
In Ichalkaranji Municipal Corporation, Mahayuti secured majority by winning 47 seats. The BJP emerged as the largest party with 43 seats. The Shiv Shahu Vikas Aghadi got 17 votes, while the Shinde Sena got 3 and the NCP got only one seat. The IMC had 16 prabhags and as many as 230 candidates were in the fray.