In a result that could prove significant for the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections next year, Shiv Sena candidate Anil Patankar won the by-election in ward number 147 in Ghatla village, Chembur.
Mr Patankar has defeated the Congress candidate Rajendra Nagarale by a handsome margin of 6,627 votes.
The by-election, which was held on January 10, was necessitated due to the resignation of Mr Patankar, who had quit Congress few months back to join the Shiv Sena. But, he faced a tough challenge due to a rebellion of Nagesh Tawate, a former Shakhapramukh, who contested as an independent.
The counting for the by-election started at 10 am. In six rounds of counting, Mr Patankar polled 11,517 votes, whereas Mr Nagarale received 4,317 votes. Mr Tawate could poll only 4317 votes.
Shiv Sena, the ruling party in the civic body, was jittery due to rebellion of Mr Tawate in the by-election. The rebel candidate was a close aide of local Sena Member of Legislative Assembly Tukaram Kate.
With the municipal elections just a year away, the win augurs well for the Sena, which managed to score a victory in Ghatla village, once considered as a bastion of senior Congress leader Narayan Rane. Mr Patankar, too, was a staunch supporter of the former chief minister. However, he had resigned as a corporator in the
civic body a few months ago, alleging torture by his former mentor and his family and joined the Sena.
Sena Member of Parliament Rahul Shewale said that the win is an indicator of saffron party’s victory in the 2017 civic elections.
Mr Patankar said he owed his victory to the confidence shown by party chief Uddhav Thackeray.
