There was a time when the BJP was called a party with a limited base. But with the advent of Narendra Modi, it has been extending its area of influence in every big or small election. Maharashtra is no exception. Under CM Devendra Fadnavis, who has spent half his term in the state government, the BJP has reached places where the erstwhile rulers have had unchallenged reign. Latur, a formidable domain of ex-CM late Vilasrao Deshmukh is the latest addition to the BJP's kitty. Although the gap between the number of seats the BJP won and the Congress bagged is just three, the fact that Fadnavis and his junior in the Cabinet, Sambhaji Patil Nilangekar, have taken the BJP tally from a big zero in the previous election to 36 in the Latur civic body, is a noticeable political development.

The triumphs in Latur and Chandrapur, yet another civic body where the BJP ousted the Congress last week, are an icing on the cake for the BJP which emerged as number one in the recently held civic and ZP polls across the state. On the other hand, the Congress surprised others including the BJP and Shiv Sena in Parbhani civic polls, where it defeated its previous ruling partner the NCP. And what should satisfy the Congress is that the total number of seats it won in the three places is slightly less than the BJP. But its failure in retaining Latur outshines the Congress' improved performance. The fractured party isn't in the mood to analyse Latur's 'so-near-yet-so-far' verdict and is very content in blaming late Deshmukh's legislator son Amit and his family for causing a close defeat.