Mixed fortunes for BJP in ZP–PS elections: one-vote win and one-vote loss

Lokmat News Network

Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar:

In a dramatic political turn of events, election results from Maharashtra highlighted the decisive power of a single vote. A BJP-supported independent candidate won a Zilla Parishad seat by just one vote in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, while in a separate incident, a BJP candidate lost a Panchayat Samiti election by the same razor-thin margin in Dharashiv district.

In Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar tehsil, Sachin Garad contested as an independent candidate with BJP backing from Wadgaon Kolhati, Gut No. 51. The contest remained tense through every round of counting and produced a remarkable outcome, with Garad emerging victorious by a single vote. During the EVM count, Garad had taken a lead of 17 votes. However, his rival, Shinde Sena candidate Hanuman Bhondwe, secured 16 of the 17 postal ballot votes (total polled votes were 16 only), narrowing the gap to just one. Following demands for a recount by the defeated candidate and supporters, the margin remained unchanged, confirming Garad’s one-vote victory.

Scenes of emotional celebration followed the announcement, as Garad’s supporters lifted him onto their shoulders amid jubilant celebrations. The result served as a powerful reminder of the importance of every individual vote in a democracy.

BJP candidate defeated in Dharashiv

In contrast, voters in Dharashiv district witnessed the other side of the same electoral coin. In the Dhoki Panchayat Samiti constituency, a BJP candidate was defeated by a margin of just one vote, underscoring once again the value of each ballot cast.

The contest was a direct face-off between BJP’s Nihal Kazi and Uddhav Sena candidate Amar Samudre. In the closely fought election, Samudre emerged victorious with 3,187 votes, while Kazi secured 3,186. Notably, 56 voters in the constituency opted for NOTA (None of the Above), a figure that drew attention in the context of the narrow result.