Latur, Feb 9 The Mahayuti is set to retain power in the Latur Zilla Parishad, despite the main constituent BJP seeing a drop in seats. Meanwhile, the opposition Congress has improved its performance and emerged as the largest party, an official said. Counting of votes for elections to 12 Zilla Parishads and 125 Panchayat Samitis began at 10 am on Monday. The Election Commission has not yet released any official updates on the results. In the 59-member Latur ZP, the BJP has won 18 seats, down from 35 in the previous election. The Congress's tally has increased from 15 to 23, the official said. The NCP has won 12 seats, while the Shiv Sena and MNS have made their debut in the Latur ZP by winning one seat each. The Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT) and Sharad Pawar's NCP (SP) have also won one seat each, the official said. Two independent candidates have also won, he added. State minister and NCP leader Babasaheb Patil told PTI that his party had emerged as the "kingmaker" in the Latur ZP. "We will discuss with Deputy Chief Minister Suntera Pawar and state unit president Sunil Tatkare on a decision regarding the party's representation with the BJP," Patil, MLA from Ahmedpur, said.
Latur, Feb 9 The Mahayuti is set to retain power in the Latur Zilla Parishad, despite the main constituent BJP seeing a drop in seats. Meanwhile, the opposition Congress has improved its performance and emerged as the largest party, an official said. Counting of votes for elections to 12 Zilla Parishads and 125 Panchayat Samitis began at 10 am on Monday. The Election Commission has not yet released any official updates on the results. In the 59-member Latur ZP, the BJP has won 18 seats, down from 35 in the previous election. The Congress's tally has increased from 15 to 23, the official said. The NCP has won 12 seats, while the Shiv Sena and MNS have made their debut in the Latur ZP by winning one seat each. The Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT) and Sharad Pawar's NCP (SP) have also won one seat each, the official said. Two independent candidates have also won, he added. State minister and NCP leader Babasaheb Patil told PTI that his party had emerged as the "kingmaker" in the Latur ZP. "We will discuss with Deputy Chief Minister Suntera Pawar and state unit president Sunil Tatkare on a decision regarding the party's representation with the BJP," Patil, MLA from Ahmedpur, said.