Shiv Sena’s (SS) continued opposition to ally BJP and its intransigence during the no-confidence motion against the Modi regime recently, have not bode well for it in Maharashtra’s local body elections. On Friday, while the BJP routed all its detractors, including the NCP and Congress, Sena was not able to open its account in Sangli-Miraj-Kupwad municipality.

The Congress and NCP drew a blank in Jalgaon.

“This continued support for BJP in Maharashtra reflects people’s desire for a better quality of life, being delivered by the state government led by CM Devendra Fadnavis, and Modi government’s commitment to take Maharashtra to greater heights,” party chief Amit Shah tweeted.

Shah took to Twitter to also say, “Congratulations to CM Shri @Dev_Fadnavis, State President Shri @raosahebdanve and karyakartas of @BJP4Maharashtra unit for this landslide victory in Jalgaon and Sangli-Miraj-Kupwad municipal corporations. I thank people of Maharashtra for their unwavering trust in the BJP.”

BJP took Sangli, long considered NCP-Congress backyard, in western Maharashtra as the saffron party bagged 41 seats and Sena drew a zero. NCP and INC scored 15 and 20, respectively, while others got 2 seats. Sangli is part of the larger sugar belt and the home to the cooperative movement in the state. Politically it has been dominated by such leaders as Sharad Pawar.

On the other hand, BJP grabbed the Jalgaon municipal corporation after a gap of 36 years. While the Congress drew a blank here, along with NCP, BJP’s victory with 57 seats also meant a lesson to Eknath Khadse who had subtracted himself from the party’s election exercise. Sena bagged just 15 seats here.

A senior BJP leader from Maharashtra told MyNation that it also meant that chief minister Devendra Fadnavis, who was facing some opposition from within some quarters in the party, has yet again bolstered his position.