BJP candidate Atul Shah with the girl after defeating Shiv Sena Candidate Surendra Bagalkar in the BMC elections. (Photo: PTI)

Mumbai: A five-year-old girl decided the fate of two candidates in the ward number 220 of Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporationon Thurdays, after they polled equal number of votes.

Chits were drawn, and five years old Yashika Salunkhe picked up one of the chits. The winner was BJP spokesperson Atul Shah.

Shah and his main rival Shiv Sena's Surendra Bagalkar were tied at 5,496 votes in ward number 220 which is in Girgaum area.

The number did not change even after three recounts which are mandatory in such situations, so the lottery system was adopted, state election officials said.