Devendra Fadnavis: 'Satara and Parli by-poll results shocking'

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis addressed the media after the Results of Maharashtra Assembly elections declared him as the winner from Nagpur South West seat. In his address, he admitted two losses for the BJP.

'By-poll results shocking' 

"Two results are shocking for us — by-poll for Satara Lok Sabha constituency and Parli Assembly constituency. Our six ministers have lost, we will find out reasons tomorrow onward. Today's the day to celebrate our victory and let us do that," he said.

In the Parli constituency, BJP leader Pankaja Munde lost to Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) candidate Dhananjay Munde, who is also her cousin. In the Satara by-poll elections, BJP's Udayanraje Bhonsle, a three-term MP from the constituency, lost to NCP candidate Shriniwas Patil. Bhonsle had resigned barely three months after the Lok Sabha elections that he won on an NCP ticket, thus necessitating the by-polls. He joined the BJP in September. 

15 independent MLAs join BJP 

"15 independent MLAs have contacted me and they are ready to come with us. Others may also come but these 15 will come with us. Most of them are BJP or Shiv Sena rebels," the CM said. 

On BJP-Shiv Sena alliance

In his address, the Chief Minister said that the alliance between the two parties is intact, however, he said the details of the alliance will be declared in due time.

"We are going to go ahead according to what has been decided between Shiv Sena and us (BJP). What has been decided is something which you will get to know when the time is right,"

Earlier, Shiv Sena spokesperson and MP Sanjay Raut said that the alliance between the two parties is intact and claimed that the long-standing partners would continue their alliance and have agreed to a 50-50 formula for forming a government. 

BJP contested on 150 seats and Shiv Sena fought on 124 seats in Maharashtra. Alliance partners of BJP fielded 14 candidates on the party's lotus symbol, the seat-sharing formula was shared in a press conference led by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Shiv Sena chief Udhav Thackeray. In the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, the NDA had won 41 of 48 seats, demolishing the Congress-NCP alliance.

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