KDMC polls: CM Fadnavis ensures development for BJP, but Sena still has upper hand

MUMBAI :Shiv Sena on Monday emerged as the single largest party by winning 52 seats in the keenly-fought Kalyan-Dombivali Municipal Corporation (KDMC) elections, but has fallen short of majority.

It could not have been a better one year anniversary gift. Within two days that he completed a year in office, Maharashtra Devendra Fadnavis has ensured that his party the BJP is growing on its own acquiring significant seat share in two crucial municipal polls held in the state.

From a mere nine seats in 2010 in Kalyan Dombivali Municipal Corporation (KDMC), to a Heavy 42 seats is huge jump for the saffron party. However, with 52 seats, the Shiv Sena has emerged as the single largest party in the satellite towns of Mumbai. Ironically, both Sena and BJP are now hunting partners to reach the magic number of 61.

“A lot of accusation and counter accusations were made and lot of things said during campaigning. But let bygones be bygones. We should focus of development of Kalyan now,” Sena said.

Soon after the results, Uddhav Thackeray had attacked the BJP claiming that the entire Maharashtra cabinet had turned up to campaign for candidates of the NDA major, but Shiv Sena was successful in winning people’s confidence.

The BJP remained at the second spot in the KDMC elections by winning 42 seats, sharply improving its earlier tally of nine, in the 122-member body.

The Congress-NCP combine was relegated to the fourth position with six seats behind the Raj Thackeray-led MNS which bagged nine seats.

Reports also said that Shiv Sena had also been negotiating with Raj Thackeray-led MNS.