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Running as an independent candidate, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) rebel Gokul Gite defeated the official Mahayuti (Shiv Sena-Eknath Shinde faction) candidate, Narendra Darade.
Eknath Shinde, Gokul Gite. (News18 Marathi)
Gokul Gite emerged as a ‘giant killer’ on Monday, leading a major political upset for the ruling Mahayuti in the Nashik Local Authorities’ Constituency Legislative Council (MLC) elections.
Running as an independent candidate, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) rebel Gite defeated the official Mahayuti (Shiv Sena-Eknath Shinde faction) candidate, Narendra Darade.
Why it matters
Narendra Darade was a prominent, incumbent leader with the full backing of the ruling Mahayuti alliance, which had significant voter strength in the constituency.
In the days leading up to the polls, senior Maharashtra ministers Girish Mahajan and Uday Samant held multiple rounds of talks to force Gite to withdraw from the race and support the official alliance candidate. Despite intense pressure, Gite refused to step aside, stating that pulling out would be a betrayal of his voters.
What Gite said
Before the counting of votes began, Gite made a sensational statement while talking to the media. He said, “I had only stopped my campaign; I had not officially withdrawn from the election. Even though I stopped campaigning, voters supported me voluntarily. I am confident that my victory will be ensured by the mandate of the voters.”
According to preliminary information, Gite alone completed the quota with more than 100 votes out of 150 votes counted in the first round.
Nashik Legislative Council results
In Maharashtra Legislative Council (Vidhan Parishad) elections, the ‘Local Authorities’ Constituency’ seats are determined by an electoral college consisting of the following eligible voters — members of Municipal Corporations, Councilors of Municipalities, members of Zilla Parishads (District Councils), members of Panchayat Samitis (Sub-district blocks). These elected local representatives use the system of Proportional Representation by means of a single transferable vote to choose representatives for the upper house of the state legislature.
Total votes polled: 618
Invalid votes: 13
Valid votes: 605
Quota: 303
Gokul Gite (Independent): 357
Narendra Darade (Mahayuti): 248
I have been betrayed: Darade
Shiv Sena’s Shinde faction candidate Narendra Darade reacted angrily to the result. Darade said, “Everyone betrayed me. Our leaders were kept in the dark.”
With agency inputs
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