Maharashtra: A confident BJP orders 5,000 laddoos before results
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is confident of winning elections in Maharashtra, and it didn't even wait for results to start the celebrations. The state unit of BJP placed an order of 5,000 laddoos and innumerable garlands, PTI reports. A giant screen has also been erected at the party's Mumbai headquarters to allow supporters to witness the events of the day. Here's more.
We know we are winning: BJP leader
"We know that we are returning to power. We are only curious about the numbers," a BJP leader told PTI. Notably, all party workers have been asked to come to the headquarters by 10 am and "celebrations" are set to begin by afternoon.
Polling happened three days ago, BJP put up good fight
The 288-seated Maharashtra went to polls on October 21. During electioneering, BJP made Prime Minister Narendra Modi's governance, the abrogation of Article 370, and the National Register of Citizens (NRC) its central themes. Meanwhile, the opposition Congress struggled with infighting and lack of leadership. To note, Congress forged an alliance with NCP this time and BJP with Shiv Sena.
So, what did exit polls predict for Maharashtra?
Now, the sense of jubilation which has taken over BJP supporters is understandable as most of the exit polls predicted an easy win for the alliance. BJP-Sena could scoop 194-243 seats and would face no difficulty in forming the government, as the majority mark is 145. Interestingly, Sena agreed to become the "junior partner" in the alliance, by contesting on 124 seats.
Despite good prospects, Sena says BJP "needs it"
As most pollsters hinted that the Modi magic worked in Maharashtra again, Sena claimed the party will need its support, nevertheless. "The BJP cannot form the next government without the help of the Shiv Sena, even if it wins only 4-5 seats. I think Shiv Sena will win 100 seats. The BJP-Sena alliance will cross 200-mark in this assembly elections," Sanjay Raut said yesterday.
Sena is hoping to make Aaditya Deputy CM
Further, there is a buzz in political corridors that Sena hopes to win a respectful number of seats so that it can bargain for the post of Deputy Chief Minister for Aaditya Thackeray. Aaditya is the first member of the Thackeray clan who is contesting elections. Fielded against NCP's Suresh Mane from Worli, a Sena bastion, Aaditya took a lead in early trends.
Separately, Devendra Fadnavis visited Kedarath temple yesterday
The results of the ongoing counting will cement Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis as a formidable force in Indian politics. Yesterday, he paid a visit to Uttarakhand's Kedarnath shrine to seek blessings from Lord Shiva. He reportedly spoke to priests for an hour at the shrine. "Took darshan and blessings at Kedarnath temple this morning. Har Har Mahadev!," the BJP leader tweeted after his visit.
