Celebrations outside BJP office; Assembly polls new target

Firecrackers were today burst and 'laddoos' distributed outside the BJP office here as jubilant workers celebrated the party's sterling showing in the Lok Sabha polls.

"I am very happy. We were waiting for this moment for last two months. We are distributing laddoos," BJP state president Devendra Fadnavis said.

"The mood of people has been translated into votes," he said. "We have secured a decisive mandate. We are elated. At the same time, we realise the responsibility placed on our shoulders by people," he said.
"The Mahayuti alliance, comprising BJP, Shiv Sena and others is reaching 40 seats of the total 48 seats in Maharashtra," he said.

"People of Maharashtra should hand over reigns of the state to Mahayuti, in the Assembly elections scheduled later this year," he said.

Meanwhile, the BJP-Shiv Sena alliance in Maharashtra is leading in 47 of the total 48 seats as per early trends.

BJP candidates are leading in 22, Sena nominees in 18 seats. The notable BJP candidates leading include former party president Nitin Gadkari from Nagpur and the party's deputy leader in Lok Sabha Gopinath Munde, who is attempting to retain his Beed seat in Marathwada.