In a first ever, three Independents win in Maharashtra

Interestingly, three Independents will also be going to the Lok Sabha from the state—this is the first time that so many independents have won in Maharashtra since the state’s inception in 1960. The three independent MPs are Baliram Jadhav (representing the Bahujan Vikas Aghadi from Palghar in Thane district), Raju Shetty (of the Swabhiman Shetkari Sanghatana from Hatkanangale) and Sadashiv Mandlik (rebel NCP candidate and sitting MP from Kolhapur who was denied a ticket). The victory of Mandlik, a wrestler, is significant because he had publicly taken on Sharad Pawar in his campaign and levelled serious charges against him.