Maha MLC Polls: NCP leader says BJP won because of Money and Enforcement Directorate.

On 20th June,  NCP alleged the Opposition party BJP indulged in horse-trading and working secret pacts in the Maharashtra Legislative Council polls, which saw Congress' Chandrakant Handore losing to BJP's Prasad Lad.

The ruling party Shiv Sena also alleged that the BJP won only by misusing its powers. Congress said no one could be blamed if its MLAs did not vote for Handore.NCP leader Supriya Sule also launched a scathing attack at BJP stating that the saffron party won because of MED (Money and Enforcement Directorate). 

In a major setback to the MVA, Handore lost to Lad while the other nominee of Congress, Bhai Jagtap won with a safe margin. All five candidates of the saffron party secured victory when only two candidates, each of the Sena and NCP, also emerged victorious. Shiv Sena's winning candidates Sachin Ahir and Amshya Padvi, secured 26 votes each against the 55 votes the party has in the Lower House. 

Sena candidate Sachin Ahir, commenting on the poll performance of his party, stated that the results indicate that all the MLAs are solid behind the leadership of Uddhav Thackeray. When questioned about whether the Sena votes split, Ahir stated their votes did not split. "This cannot be said (that three votes of the Sena split) as of now. We had to perform the duty as an MVA partner."

Senior Sena leader Vinayak Raut said the 5th BJP candidate only won because the BJP misused its powers. The two NCP candidates bagged 57 votes — six more than the party's effective strength in the MLC polls. NCP state president Jayant Patil stated that the victory was a display of unity by MLAs of the Sharad Pawar-led party. When asked about the Congress' defeat, the NCP leader said, "Those who have the habit of indulging in horse trade must have engaged in secret pacts, and that will slowly come to the fore."