Mumbai: The BJP candidate is leading by more than 15,000 votes over his Shiv Sena rival in the counting for Palghar Lok Sabha seat bypoll in Maharashtra.
In Bhandara-Gondiya, BJP’s Hemant Patle is ahead of NCP’s Madhukar Kukde.
The results of the two Lok Sabha seats — Palghar and Bhandara-Gondiya — in Maharashtra are important for all four major political parties – BJP, Shiv Sena, Congress and NCP – as the outcome is likely to have a bearing on their future course.
In Palghar, the bypoll was necessitated following the death of sitting BJP MP Chintaman Wanaga. The BJP’s bickering ally Shiv Sena has fielded the late MP’s son, Srinivas Wanaga, in a bid to garner the sympathy vote.
The BJP has put up former Congress minister Rajendra Gavit and the Bahujan Vikas Aghadi is also in the fray with the nomination of its ex-MP Baliram Jadhav.
The Bhandara-Gondia seat was vacated after BJP’s Nana Patole resigned from the party and quit his Lok Sabha membership. The NCP had fielded Madhukar Kukde, while the BJP had nominated Hemant Patel.