Congress stuns BJP in Latur, wins 43 of 70 seats with VBA support

Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar: The results for elections to the Latur Municipal Corporation produced a major upset, with Congress handing a defeat to BJP by winning 43 out of 70 seats.Led by local party MLA Amit Deshmukh, Congress, with support from Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi (VBA) in Latur, dethroned BJP, which won only 22 seats. VBA contested five seats in Latur and won four. VBA chief Prakash Ambedkar had himself campaigned in Latur.Local BJP functionary Archana Patil Chakurkar was earlier made in charge of the Latur polls, but later Nilanga MLA Sambhaji Patil Nilangekar replaced her in the wake of the death of Shivraj Patil Chakurkar, Archana's father-in-law. According to a section of local BJP functionaries, this sudden change did not go down well with many, especially the locally dominant Lingayat community, to which the Chakurkars belong. "Nilangekar tried to field candidates of his own choice, causing rebellion by many, including old party workers and functionaries. There was unrest over the ticket distribution also," a local BJP office bearer said, preferring anonymity.The poll campaigning in Latur also witnessed major controversy as BJP state president Ravindra Chavan passed objectionable remarks against Vilasrao Deshmukh. Chavan, in his speech, exuded confidence that memories of the late CM, who belonged to Latur, would be "erased". Amid calls for a Latur bandh over Chavan's comments, the late CM's son and local MLA Amit Deshmukh appealed to people to observe restraint and vent out their anger through the ballot.Congress politician Jitendra Dehade, who was in charge of the Latur Municipal Corporation polls, said people reacted against BJP for stooping low during the poll campaigning. "People of Latur will never forget their beloved leader and late CM Vilasrao. Instead of erasing his memories, voters wiped out BJP," he said.VBA vice-president Advocate Siddhartha Mokale said the outcome of the Latur polls showed how proper coordination within an alliance can dethrone BJP. "Both alliance partners were honest and worked with a common agenda to remove BJP," he said. Nilangekar could not be reached for his comments.