Amit Shah thanks Maharashtra for supporting BJP-Shiv Sena alliance

Home Minister Amit Shah congratulated the people of Maharashtra for expressing confidence in the saffron alliance of BJP and Shiv Sena. He further asserted that the government will be decidated towards the progress of the state and the service to the people. Union Minister further congratulated Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and state party chief Chandrakant Patil. 

The BJP has won fewer seats compared to the 2014 Assembly polls, but its "strike rate" this time is better, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said on Thursday.

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He also thanked the people of Maharashtra for giving a "clear and decisive mandate" to the BJP-led NDA. Fadnavis also said that the BJP and Shiv Sena will go by what was "pre-decided" between them on the sharing of power. He noted the BJP suffered in the state elections due to rebellion by some party leaders, but added that 15 of those are in touch with him.

Fadnavis, however, expressed shock at the defeat of party candidates Udayanraje Bhosale in the Satara Lok Sabha bypoll and minister Pankaja Munde in Parli Assembly seat.

"I thank the people of Maharashtra for giving a clear mandate to the 'Mahayuti' (grand alliance). No doubt, the next government will be ours," he said. "In fact, it is time to celebrate and not analyse. But if we look at the result, the BJP had in 2014 contested 260 seats and won 122. This time, we fought 164 and are likely to get 105. Our strike is rate better, we won 70 percent of the seats," he said.

Noting that the BJP received 28 percent of the total votes in the 2014 Assembly elections, he said, "This time we have got 26.5 votes despite contesting 164 seats."

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He also hit out at NCP chief Sharad Pawar, saying the veteran leader said the opposition parties would ensure clean sweep in the election. "We suffered only because of the rebels, they (opposition) need not be happy. We only are forming the government, they are far from being able to do that," Fadnavis said. 

BJP working president JP Nadda, too, extended his gratitude to the people who displayed their confidence on Haryana CM Manohar Lal Khattar. 

Maharashtra elections

In the saffron alliance, 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. Meanwhile, the Congress contested the polls in alliance with the NCP. Both parties contested on 125 seats each in the 288-member Assembly and its allies on the remaining 38 seats.

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Haryana elections

In Haryana, with BJP CM Manohar Lal Khattar eyeing a second term, the main opposition to the saffron party is Congress which is eyeing to stop BJP's ever-expanding base in the states across India. Another minor party that fought the electoral battle was the once strong Chautala clan's JJP and INLD.

(With PTI inputs)