Sangli (Maharashtra), Jul 8: Ousting the incumbent NCP, Congress today registered a clear-cut victory in the elections to Sangli-Miraj-Kupwad Municipal Corporation in western Maharashtra, winning 40 of the 76 seats.
NCP, which controlled the corporation for the last five years—in alliance with BJP for some time—got only 18 seats.
Swabhimani Aaghadi, a front which included candidates of BJP, Swabhimani Shetkari Sanghtana and some independents, won eight seats. Independent candidates won in 9 wards, while MNS candidate won in a single ward.
The result is a major setback to NCP and a boost for Congress, its ruling alliance partner at the state level.
The contest was deemed prestigious; top state-level leaders, including Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan, had taken part in the campaign.
