Independents exhibit mettle, finish second in 19 seats

The Mahayuti swept the polls, the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi got an unprecedented drubbing.

Chapter closed. However, prior to the results, one looming scenario was of a hung assembly, and both sides were expecting to woo independent candidates.

Notably, a total of 4,136 candidates were in the fray, of which 2,086 were independents. Post-results, these candidates didn't become kingmakers, but fared well; coming second in 19 constituencies by leaving behind contestants from well-established six parties from either alliance.

In Airoli constituency in Navi Mumbai, BJP's Ganesh Naik defeated independent challenger Vijay Chougule by 91,880 votes. However, Chougule managed to race ahead of the contestant from Shiv Sena (UBT).