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Maharashtra Election Results: Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut Rejects Outcome, Claims “Not Voter’s Mandate”
Mumbai: As the Maharashtra Assembly election results rolled in, with the BJP-led MahaYuti alliance securing a commanding lead, Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut voiced his dissent, rejecting the results as “not the voters’ mandate.” Raut, who has been a prominent leader of the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA), claimed that the outcome of both the Lok Sabha and Assembly elections was not reflective of the voters’ true will.
The statement came as the MVA, which includes the Shiv Sena (UBT), NCP, and Congress, struggled to even reach the 100-seat mark, a far cry from their earlier predictions. Leaders of the MVA, including Sharad Pawar, Nana Patole, Balasaheb Thorat, and Vijay Wadettiwar, had expressed confidence until the morning of the results that they would secure enough seats to form the government. However, the trends have shown a dramatic shift, with the MahaYuti alliance extending its lead.
While the MVA faced setbacks, BJP Minister and candidate Chandrakant Patil noted that the Shiv Sena (UBT) would be welcome to rejoin the MahaYuti if Uddhav Thackeray expressed regret over parting ways with the BJP in 2019. Patil stated, “We will welcome him to the MahaYuti, but it is not necessary for him to join us as we are in a comfortable position to form the government.”
As the counting continued, some high-profile leaders found themselves trailing. Congress Legislature Party leader Balasaheb Thorat, a key figure in the MVA and a potential candidate for Chief Minister, was trailing in his home constituency of Sangamner. Additionally, NCP’s Cooperation Minister Dilip Walse-Patil was leading in his race against NCP(SP) candidate Devdutt Nikam.
Across Maharashtra, the counting also saw a mixed bag of results, with the NCP(SP) and BJP competing for multiple constituencies. Notably, former Minister Nawab Malik was trailing in Mankhurd-Shivajinagar against SP’s Abu Azmi, and Malik’s daughter, Sana Malik, was also behind in Anushakti Nagar.
Despite the setbacks, the BJP and its allies remain confident that they will have the numbers to form the next government in Maharashtra, with final results still being awaited.
