BJP captured two of the five Maharashtra MLC seats on 8 February 2026, a result that left the Mahayuti coalition rattled. Chhagan Bhujbal, a senior BJP minister, slammed the outcome as a warning sign for the ruling alliance. The party’s performance in Uttar Pradesh and Karnataka, however, remained robust, with BJP and allies winning 17 of 28 council seats nationwide.
Nagpur saw a decisive defeat for the BJP when Congress candidate Abhijit Govindrao Wanjarri edged past Sudhakar Kohle by 3,271 votes. The loss highlighted the party’s waning influence in its own strongholds.
Critics point to Shiv Sena’s lack of support for BJP candidates in Pune and Nagpur as the main culprit. The party’s sudden backing of Sachin Sanap in Pune is seen as a betrayal that fractured the Mahayuti’s unity.
Central leadership has ordered an inquiry, demanding that state president Ravindra Chavan explain the loss. The inquiry will probe whether intra‑party factionalism or alliance disputes pushed voters away.
A meeting of Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Deputy Chief Ministers Eknath Shinde and Sunetra Pawar is set for Thursday, where the alliance’s future will be debated. The discussion is expected to focus on damage‑control measures and a possible reshuffle of seats.
In the shadow of these political upheavals, a 45‑year‑old farmer from Nagpur, who had supported the BJP, says he feels betrayed by the coalition’s fractured stance. He hopes the leaders will restore trust before the next election.