Shiv Sena den Chhagan Bhujbal’s bastion

NASHIK: The absence of NCP leader Chhagan Bhujbal, who is in jail, during the local polls has hit the party hard. The Shiv Sena has come to power in four municipal councils in the district, three of which were earlier ruled by the NCP.
Despite the presence of NCP heavyweights in the election campaign, voters rejected the NCP in all the four municipal councils — Satana, Manmad, Nandgaon and Yeola —it ruled for last five years.In Satana, the local front called Shahar Vikas Aghadi ousted the NCP by winning six seats and the presidential post.
The results for elections of six municipal councils in the district- Bhagur, Sinnar, Manmad, Satana, Nandgaon and Yeola – were declared on Monday. Shiv Sena bagged four presidential seats and the majority in the house in Bhagur, Sinnar, Manmad and Nandgaon councils, while its alliance with BJP won the president’s post in Bhujbal’s constituency of Yeola.
In Nandgaon, Shiv Sena pulled out an astonishing victory in the home turf of Chhagan Bhujbal’s son and NCP MLA Pankaj Bhujbal, who appeared to be completely side-lined by the NCP leaders as well. Pankaj was left alone to defend Nandgaon and Manmad councils in his constituency and the Yeola council in his father’s constituency.
Shahar Vikas Aghadi candidate Sunil More won the presidential post by bagging 8,491 votes against his nearest rival from the BJP in Satana. The result came as a major jolt to the NCP and its MLA Deepika Chavan. The BJP and the Aghadi have bagged six seats each.
In Sinnar, chief minister Devendra Fadnavis’ public rally failed propel Manikrao Kokate and team to the presidential post, though the party bagged second largest share of 10 seats after Shiv Sena. Kokate, who switched loyalty from the Congress to the BJP, failed to come to power in Sinnar despite the CM’s rally. Sitting MLA Rajabhau Vaze of the Shiv Sena proved too difficult to handle for Kokate, who had earlier lost the assembly elections to Vaze.
In Bhagur, Shiv Sena district chief Vijay Karanjkar won the elections hands down with 16 out of 17 seats in its pocket. “Almost every member won by a margin of around 40% to 50%. Anita Vijay Karanjkar has retained the presidential seat,” said Rajesh Karanjkar, a resident of Bhagur.
In Manmad, the Shiv Sena and Republican Party of India (RPI) carved out a perfect victory as the alliance bagged 20 seats. The BJP failed to open its account despite a rally of the chief minister in the town.
District Shiv Sena chief Vijay Karanjkar said, “People of Nashik have realised who has the power to resolve their issues. They have ousted the ones who are incapable and retained the able ones. This was a sort semi-contest ahead of the forthcoming Zilla Parishad elections and we are certain Shiv Sena will wrest power from the NCP.”