Maharashtra Assembly elections: BJP's Pankaja Munde concedes defeat from Parli assembly seat

BJP leer and Maharashtra cabinet minister Pankaja Munde on Thursday accepted her defeat from Parli assembly seat at hands of her cousin and NCP leer Dhananjay Munde. result of Parli seat has t been declared yet, but Pankaja was trailing behind Dhananjay Munde by almost 30,000 votes.

"I worked for constituency. Though I was in government, my struggle for my constituency and people continued. I take responsibility for this defeat," she said.

Political scenario

opposition tried to corner BJP government on handling of ecomy with Congress leer Rahul Gandhi blaming ruling party for ecomic slowdown, unemployment, highlighting issues like "failure" of demonetisation and GST rollout. BJP, on or hand, is seeking a second straight term under Chief Minister Devendra Fnavis in Maharashtra.

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Among or parties, Raj Thackeray's MNS fielded 101 candidates, CPI 16, CPM 8. BSP fielded candidates in 262 constituencies. A total of 1400 Independents are also in poll arena. opposition campaign was, however, lackluster as both Congress and NCP were plagued by infighting and desertions in run-up to polls.

campaign in Maharashtra was marked by sharp exchange of barbs between chief minister of Maharashtra and NCP chief Shar Pawar, who hit hustings at of 79 and dressed a number of rallies. While allies NCP and Congress failed to hold any joint rallies, PM Modi dressed nine rallies across state, Rahul Gandhi spoke at six public meetings. campaign also saw an undertone of jostling for supremacy between BJP and Shiv Sena, which h fought last assembly elections separately, winning 122 and 63 seats respectively. Congress h bagged 42 and NCP 41 seats. 

Prominent candidates in fray are Chief Minister Fnavis and his predecessors from Congress, Ashok Chavan, who is in fray from Bhokar in Nanded district, and Prithviraj Chavan seeking re-election from Kar South in Satara district. Yuva Sena chief Aitya, first from  Thackeray family, contested from Mumbai's Worli constituency. NCP's Satara strongman, Shivaji Maharaj's descendent Udayanraje Bhosale jumped  ship to BJP weeks before elections. 

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(With PTI inputs)