Maharashtra results should be wakeup call for Opposition attempting to mislead people on demonetisation, says Amit Shah

BJP on Monday emerged as a major gainer in the first phase of municipal council polls winning 39 municipal chief's posts of the 147 urban local bodies.

Delhi: BJP president Amit Shah said on Monday that Maharashtra local body poll results should be a wake-up call for Opposition attempting to mislead people on the issue of demonetisation.

Shah tweeted: "BJP has emerged as the largest party, I thank people of Maharashtra for their continued support and faith in BJP's development politics. Maharashtra result should be a wakeup call for opposition attempting to mislead people on demonetisation, a decision in national interest."

He also congratulated Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis for the good showing of his party in the state.

Congratulations to karyakartas of @BJP4Maharashtra , CM @Dev_Fadnavis & @raosahebdanve for excellent performance in Municipal polls. — Amit Shah (@AmitShah) November 28, 2016

BJP has emerged as the largest party, I thank people of Maharashtra for their continued support and faith in BJP's development politics.

— Amit Shah (@AmitShah) November 28, 2016

BJP has emerged as the largest party, I thank people of Maharashtra for their continued support and faith in BJP's development politics. — Amit Shah (@AmitShah) November 28, 2016

BJP today emerged as a major gainer in the first phase of municipal council polls, dealing a blow to Congress and NCP in the keenly fought elections, whose campaign centred around issues like demonetisation.

Results pouring in from around the state showed the BJP making inroads into the Congress and NCP strongholds.

Elections to 147 municipal councils and 17 nagar panchayats across 25 districts in Maharashtra were seen as 'mini' Assembly polls and a test of popularity of Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, who led the BJP's campaign to extend his party's influence in the rural areas, where Congress and NCP has held sway for long.

Fadnavis, who entered third year in office heading the first BJP-led government in the state, had addressed around 50 poll rallies.

As many as 15,826 candidates were in the fray for 3,705 seats spread over the municipal councils and nagar panchayats, where voting was held yesterday in the first phase with around 70 per cent of the electorate exercising its franchise.

Polling was also held for municipal council presidents post in 147 places for which 1,013 candidates were in the race.

In all, 212 civic bodies, comprising municipal councils and nagar panchayats, are going to polls in four phases. The next rounds of voting are scheduled on December 14, December 18, and January 8.

(With PTI inputs)