Mumbai: BJP defeats Shiv Sena in BMC by-election, narrows tally gap

Mumbai: The BJP narrowed its tally gap with Shiv Sena in the Mumbai civic body as its nominee on Thursday won the BMC bypoll from Bhandup, beating the bickering ally's candidate by 4,792 votes.

The BJP candidate, Jagruti Patel, polled 11,129 votes in ward no. 116, while the Sena nominee, Minakshi Patil, got 6,337 votes, an official of the Brihanmumbai Municipal
Corporation (BMC) said.

The by-election was necessitated after the death of Congress corporator Pramila Patil on April 25.

With the latest victory, the BJP's tally in the 227-member BMC has risen to 83, while that of the Sena remains at 84. While Sena has claimed support of four other corporators, BJP has claimed the support of two others.

Senior BJP corporator Shailaja Girkar passed away in Mumbai last month. That seat is still technically counted as belonging to the BJP as bypoll hasn't been held, the official said.

The election was held on Wednesday and saw an aggressive campaign by both the BJP and the Shiv Sena. The Congress had fielded Pramila Singh as its candidate.

Reacting to the results, BJP MP Kirit Somaiya said leaders of the bickering ally Shiv Sena should shed their arrogance.

"If Shiv Sena doesn't get rid of their arrogance, they will be reduced to 83 seats and BJP will have 84 seats in BMC," Somaiya said.

Mumbai BJP president Ashish Shelar said the Bhandup bypoll result has shown the 'hollowness of big claims made by some people'. However, he did not name any Sena leaders.