Win in civic polls mandate for demonetisation: Javadekar

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) termed the striking win in both Maharashtra and Gujarat municipal polls as “mandate for demonetisation.” 

While addressing media at the party headquarters here, Union Minister for Human Resource Development Prakash Javadekar on Tuesday said “The opposition parties should now understand the mood of the country. BJP has registered a massive victory in both Maharashtra and Gujarat. The results have shown mirror to those opposing the Prime Minister’s demonetisation move.”

The minister also compared Maharashtra municipal poll results of 2011 and 2016. In 2011, BJP won 298 seats, Shiv Sena- 264, Congress -771 and NCP- 916. On the contrary, in 2016, the winning seats of BJP have rose to 980 while Shiv Sena has managed to win 508 seats, Congress - 633 and NCP -629 seats. Of the 147 posts  of municipal council presidents, the BJP has won 52.

Wisdom should now dawn on the opposition parties stalling Parliament and impasse should be resolved, he said.

Meanwhile, Union Minister Mansukh Mandaviya projected the BJP’s win in Gujarat, the state he hails from, as a reflection of people’s support to Modi and policies of Chief Minister Vijay Rupani, who had taken over in August this year.

Asked if BJP sees the results as a referendum on demonetization, Javadekar said, “These were small but immediate elections after demonetization. So it was significant.”