Nana Patole quits as Maharashtra Congress chief after poll debacle

Nana Patole resigned as the president of the Maharashtra Congress on Monday, days after the party suffered a crushing defeat in the assembly elections. The resignation comes amid mounting pressure on the Congress leadership following the BJP-led Mahayuti alliance's overwhelming victory.

In the recent elections, the Mahayuti secured a three-fourths majority, marking one of the biggest victories for the BJP in the state. Of the three key Congress leaders in Maharashtra—Nana Patole, Balasaheb Thorat, and Prithviraj Chavan—only Patole managed to win his seat. However, his victory from the Sakoli assembly constituency in Bhandara district came with a wafer-thin margin of just 208 votes.

Thorat and Chavan, both senior Congress leaders, lost their respective contests, further highlighting the party’s struggle in the state. Addressing the situation, Patole said on Sunday that the Congress would work to ensure the newly-elected Mahayuti government fulfills its promises made to the people of Maharashtra in its election manifesto and speeches.

The BJP's dominance in the state was evident, with the party securing 128 out of 149 seats it contested. This performance significantly boosted the Mahayuti alliance's overall tally, cementing their place as the ruling force in Maharashtra. The victory also adds to the BJP's momentum after its recent electoral successes, including a historic third consecutive term in Haryana.