**BJP Faces Setback in Nanded Local Body Elections Despite Dominance**
In a surprising turn of events during the Maharashtra local body elections, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) encountered a significant defeat in the Loha municipal corporation of Nanded. The party had fielded six candidates from a single family, a move that sparked considerable controversy. In a friendly rivalry contest involving 20 corporators and a municipal president’s position, all six BJP candidates were defeated by the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), a partner in the Mahayuti alliance led by Ajit Pawar.
The BJP had placed its trust in Gajanan Suryawanshi, a prominent figure in Loha, for the president’s post. However, he was outmatched by the NCP candidate, Sharad Pawar, sharing a name with the party’s veteran leader. The electoral defeat extended to Suryawanshi’s family members, including his wife Godavari, brother Sachin, sister-in-law Supriya, brother-in-law Yuvraj Waghmare, and nephew’s wife Reena Vyavhare, all of whom failed to secure victory.
The decision to nominate six candidates from the same household drew criticism not only from the opposition, Maha Vikas Aghadi, but also from within the BJP’s alliance. NCP leader Prataprao Govindrao Chikhalikar remarked that the BJP’s choice reflected a lack of viable candidates in the region. The Maha Vikas Aghadi also took the opportunity to criticize the BJP’s approach to “dynastic politics.”
In the broader context of the Nanded district elections, the NCP emerged victorious in Loha, Kandhar, Degloor, and Umri, while the BJP managed to secure wins in Kundalwadi, Mudkhed, and Bhokar municipal councils. The Shiv Sena and Marathwada Janhit Party each won two councils, with the Shiv Sena (UBT) and Congress claiming one victory each. Notably, the NCP (Sharad Pawar) did not manage to open its tally in the district.
The BJP’s performance in Nanded was particularly noteworthy due to the recent entry of former Congress leader Ashok Chavan into the party, who is regarded as a significant political figure in the region.
**FAQ**
*What was the outcome of the recent local body elections in Nanded?*
The NCP won the majority of seats in the Loha municipal corporation, defeating all six candidates fielded by the BJP, including their presidential candidate Gajanan Suryawanshi.
