Rane rebellion hits Sena-BJP in KDMC election

The ruling Shiv Sena-BJP combine got a major jolt on Monday, as the combine lost the absolute majority in the Kalyan-Dombivli Municipal Corporation's (KDMC) election held on Sunday. It is still the single largest combine but has a margin of just one seat.

A defeat for the saffron combine, ruling the municipal corporation for the last ten years, became imminent with only around 50 per cent of voter turnout on Sunday. The partywise position in the house of 107 is as follows-Shiv Sena-29, BJP-16, Congress-21, NCP-23, independents-14, Republican Party of India (RPI)-3 and Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP)-1.

Though elections were seen as pointer to the raging battle between Shiv Sena and state revenue minister Narayan Rane, the election has thrown surprise winner in Nationalist Congress Party (NCP). NCP managed to increase its strength from mere 10 to 22. A faction-ridden BJP was the biggest looser as its strength has been reduced from 22 to 16.

However, Congress also managed to increase its tally from 16 to 21 despite no senior Congress leader except Rane hitting the campaign trail.

Now the key to mayorship of Kalyan-Dombivli is in the hands of independents, and the saffron combine can take solace as of the 14 independents, 4 were backed by it and 5 are Sena rebels.