India, June 23 -- Amid cross-voting from both ruling and Opposition ranks, the BJP-led Mahayuti on Monday swept 16 of the 17 Maharashtra Legislative Council seats from local authorities' constituencies, even as Nashik delivered a surprise defeat to the governing bloc.

The BJP won 11 seats and its allies, Shiv Sena, three and the NCP two. Independent and BJP rebel Gokul Gite, a relative of a local party leader, clinched the Nashik seat.

The biennial elections were originally notified for 17 seats, including one bypoll, but voting was necessitated in only 11 constituencies as candidates of the Mahayuti alliance, comprising the BJP, Shiv Sena and NCP, secured unopposed victories in six seats.

Voting in the 11 constituencies, where elected...