This Nashik result has really shaken things up ah,because Gokul Gite,an independent candidate who had earlier rebelled against BJP,has actually defeated Mahayuti's official candidate Narendra Darade . And not by some tiny margin also .
Gite won Nashik Local Authorities Constituency election for Maharashtra Legislative Council on June 22, 2026 . His victory against Narendra Darade has created serious embarrassment for ruling alliance,because this was not result many people were expecting.
Numbers tell story clearly . Gokul Gite got 357 votes,crossing victory quota of 303 votes quite comfortably,while Narendra Darade managed only 248 votes . Election was held on June 18 and out of 619 eligible voters,only one vote was not cast . That turnout itself shows how high-stakes this contest had become .
But counting day also did not go smoothly . Tensions went up after Gite raised legal objections over presence of Kishor Darade,sitting MLA and brother of Narendra Darade,in counting hall . Gite questioned whether Election Commission rules were being followed properly,and after that,heated exchanges started among supporters .
Few things standing out clearly in this election:
- Gokul Gite's win has changed local political equations in Nashik .
- Counting process saw controversy after objections over Kishor Darade's presence.
- Mahayuti is now facing internal dissent and accusations of betrayal .
And tbh,this is where result becomes bigger than just one seat . Darade brothers openly expressed disappointment and claimed they were misled by coalition partners . They also criticised senior Mahayuti leaders for not supporting them properly during campaign.
That kind of statement from inside alliance is not small thing . When official candidate loses and then starts blaming own side,it means anger was already building somewhere . Gite's win has only brought it out in public.
Now Mahayuti will have to deal with uncomfortable questions from its own local leaders . Because if rebel-backed independent candidate can pull 357 votes against official candidate,then either ground support shifted badly or internal support never fully came in first place .
And honestly,this result may keep troubling Mahayuti in Nashik for some time . One election is over,but distrust inside alliance looks very much alive…
