NCP loses Pune APMC to BJP, UBT wrests Malegaon from Shiv Sena

PUNE/NASHIK/AURANGABAD: The BJP-backed panel ended the dominance of NCP in the Pune Agriculture Produce Market Committee (APMC) by winning the fiercely contested election on Saturday.
The Pune APMC, one of the crucial wholesale markets in the state, has been ruled by NCP for the last two decades due to its strong network in various sectors. The party leadership, however, claimed victory in Khed, Maval, Ambegaon, Baramati, Indapur and Purandar APMC markets in Pune district.
Shiv Sena (UBT)-backed panel snatched the Malegaon APMC in Nashik district from minister Dada Bhuse of Shiv Sena. The voting for the committees was held on April 28.
State NCP president Jayant Patil said the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) "has done extremely well" in the APMC polls across the state. "MVA has won the elections in over 75 out of 148 APMCs in the state," said Patil.
He added that the coalition has emerged stronger after this election.
Jolt to NCP in Pune APMC polls, says BJP
In Pune district, NCP suffered a setback in Daund APMC as the BJP panel led by MLA Rahul Kul won nine out of 18 seats.
The Congress panel captained by MLA Sangram Thopte could hold on to Bhor APMC successfully. NCP’s Pune district chief Pradip Garatkar, who led the panel in the Pune APMC, told TOI, “We tried our best to address the differences in the party. But we failed to do so. Thus, we lost the Pune APMC.”
BJP spokesperson Sandeep Khardekar described the victory in Pune APMC as a big ‘jolt’ to the NCP. “The NCP might claim that the winning panel has their leaders. But they need to accept the fact that the expelled leader, Vikas Dangat, won the election on our support,” Khardekar added.
In the meantime, BJP-Shiv Sena won the Aurangabad and Vaijapur APMC elections. This APMC is known for wheat and sweet lemon trading and the annual business is pegged at close to Rs 4 crore.
In Vaijapur APMC, the saffron alliance backed candidates won 11 seats, while the remaining seven have been won by the Maha Vikas Aghadi backed candidates.
The most significant result was from Malegaon APMC, where the panel backed by district guardian minister Dada Bhuse of Shiv Sena lost to the group backed by Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Advay Hiray, who quit BJP and joined Sena (UBT) five months back. Uddhav Thackeray had addressed a huge rally at Malegaon, which is a bastion of Bhuse, last month.