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In a setback to ruling Congress-NCP combine in Maharashtra, BJP today won the Khadakwasla assembly bypoll in Pune district.
BJP candidate Bhimrao Tapkir won by 3,625 votes, defeating NCP's
Harshada Wanjale, the widow of MNS legislator Ramesh Wanjale whose death had necessitated the bypoll.
With this win, the BJP's strength in the 288-member Assembly rises to 47. MNS, which now has 12 MLAs, had not put up any candidate.
Harshada was Congress zilla parishad member for a long time but she joined NCP just before the bypoll, as it had refused to cede the seat in its 'quota' to Congress.
Maharashtra deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar was instrumental in bringing Harshada to the NCP fold. The election became prestigious for him as he holds sway over local civic bodies in the district.
Also, Khadakwasla falls in Baramati Lok Sabha constituency, represented by NCP chief Sharad Pawar's daughter, Supriya Sule.
Reacting to BJP's victory, ally Shiv Sena's spokesman and MP Sanjay Raut said, "It is not only a defeat of Congress-NCP, but also a defeat of Ajit Pawar."
RPI leader Ramdas Athawale said the victory was the result of his party's recent alliance with the Shiv Sena-BJP combine.
During the campaign, the BJP had focused on Pawar's "arrogant" style of functioning.
Reacting to the verdict, Supriya Sule said it called for an "introspection" within the NCP, and she, as the local MP, took responsibility for the defeat.
Pune BJP MLA Girish Bapat said the victory of 'maha-yuti (grand-alliance of Sena-BJP-RPI)' would be a trend-setter for future assembly elections as people had voted against the ruling Congress-NCP coalition and "high-handedness" of Ajit Pawar.
Sena leader from Pune, Neelam Gorhe, termed the result as "a beginning of the downfall of Congress-NCP".
Maharashtra BJP president Sudhir Mungantiwar said Tapkir's win indicated "winds of political change".
MNS chief Raj Thackeray said, "Voters have shown maturity ... Ajit
Pawar thought that he can do anything on the strength money but his overconfidence has been deflated."
"Ajit Pawar has spoilt politics with money power. This kind of politics will not succeed. They should learn a lesson from this," he told reporters in Mumbai.
BJP candidate Bhimrao Tapkir won by 3,625 votes, defeating NCP's
Harshada Wanjale, the widow of MNS legislator Ramesh Wanjale whose death had necessitated the bypoll.
With this win, the BJP's strength in the 288-member Assembly rises to 47. MNS, which now has 12 MLAs, had not put up any candidate.
Harshada was Congress zilla parishad member for a long time but she joined NCP just before the bypoll, as it had refused to cede the seat in its 'quota' to Congress.
Maharashtra deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar was instrumental in bringing Harshada to the NCP fold. The election became prestigious for him as he holds sway over local civic bodies in the district.
Also, Khadakwasla falls in Baramati Lok Sabha constituency, represented by NCP chief Sharad Pawar's daughter, Supriya Sule.
Reacting to BJP's victory, ally Shiv Sena's spokesman and MP Sanjay Raut said, "It is not only a defeat of Congress-NCP, but also a defeat of Ajit Pawar."
RPI leader Ramdas Athawale said the victory was the result of his party's recent alliance with the Shiv Sena-BJP combine.
During the campaign, the BJP had focused on Pawar's "arrogant" style of functioning.
Reacting to the verdict, Supriya Sule said it called for an "introspection" within the NCP, and she, as the local MP, took responsibility for the defeat.
Pune BJP MLA Girish Bapat said the victory of 'maha-yuti (grand-alliance of Sena-BJP-RPI)' would be a trend-setter for future assembly elections as people had voted against the ruling Congress-NCP coalition and "high-handedness" of Ajit Pawar.
Sena leader from Pune, Neelam Gorhe, termed the result as "a beginning of the downfall of Congress-NCP".
Maharashtra BJP president Sudhir Mungantiwar said Tapkir's win indicated "winds of political change".
MNS chief Raj Thackeray said, "Voters have shown maturity ... Ajit
Pawar thought that he can do anything on the strength money but his overconfidence has been deflated."
"Ajit Pawar has spoilt politics with money power. This kind of politics will not succeed. They should learn a lesson from this," he told reporters in Mumbai.
