BJP-Sena-NCP alliance shines in Maha rural polls

The mood in Maharashtra’s ruling camp was upbeat on Monday after the gram panchayat election results showed the Mahayuti alliance — BJP, Shiv Sena and Ajit Pawar faction of NCP — was way ahead of the Maha Vikas Aghadi, bagging 1,350 of the 2,359 gram panchayats that went to polls on Sunday.The results were still to be updated at the time of going to press. BJP reigned supreme with victories in 743 gram panchayats, while chief minister Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena secured 240 panchayats.