BJP Rebel Gokul Gite Stuns Ruling Shiv Sena in Nashik Council Polls

Synopsis

A significant upset in Maharashtra's legislative council elections saw BJP rebel Gokul Gite clinch the Nashik district local governing body seat, defeating the ruling Shiv Sena's nominee Narendra Darade. Gite secured a decisive victory by 109 votes, defying expectations and causing consternation among ruling party leaders. This outcome highlights internal party dynamics and the impact of independent candidates challenging established alliances.

Mumbai: BJP rebel Gokul Gite sprang a surprise on Monday as he swept Maharashtra legislative council's Nashik district local governing body constituency, defeating ruling Shiv Sena nominee Narendra Darade.

Counting was being held on Monday for the June 18 elections to 11 seats in the state legislature's Upper House.

Gite secured 357 votes against Darade's 248, winning by 109 votes, as per election officials. His victory came as a surprise, as the ruling party candidate was expected to put up a strong challenge.

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Darade belongs to the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena, which has been in the spotlight following a rebellion by six of the nine Shiv Sena (UBT) Lok Sabha members, with two of them confirming their switch to the ruling Sena.

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He had campaigned in the constituency along with several elected representatives for the election.

Shiv Sena MLC Manisha Kayande expressed reservations over the outcome, saying, "There is a serious doubt about the result as we were assured that our candidate would be supported."

A visibly upset Darade left the counting centre after it became clear that a majority of local representatives had voted in favour of Gite.

The Nashik constituency had witnessed controversy since Gite announced his candidature against Darade. He had alleged that Darade used foul language against him.

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Gite entered the fray as an independent against Darade, the ruling alliance's official candidate. Senior Mahayuti leaders, including Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Deputy CM Shinde, BJP minister Girish Mahajan and Shiv Sena minister Uday Samant had intervened to resolve the issue.

Following intense discussions, Gite halted his campaign, but his name remained on the ballot as the withdrawal deadline had passed.

Though Gite had said he would not continue his campaign after meetings with senior leaders, he clarified on Monday that he only suspended his personal campaign while his supporters continued canvassing.

The biennial elections were originally notified for 17 seats, including one bypoll, but voting was necessitated in only 11 constituencies as candidates of the Mahayuti alliance, comprising the BJP, Shinde-led Shiv Sena and Sunetra Pawar's NCP, secured unopposed victories in six seats.

BJP's Arun Lakhani from Wardha-Chandrapur-Gadchiroli and Prajakt Tanpure from Ahilyanagar, NCP nominees Vikram Kakade from Pune and Aniket Tatkare from Raigad-Ratnagiri-Sindhudurg, and Shiv Sena candidates Ravindra Phatak from Thane and Dushyant Chaturvedi from Yavatmal were elected unopposed.

Tanpure joined the BJP shortly before filing his nomination. The Ahilyanagar leader, a nephew of NCP (SP) leader Jayant Patil, had earlier served as a minister in the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government.

The Opposition MVA alleged that the ruling alliance used money and muscle power to force withdrawal of rival candidates.