In a surprise development, the state-based Rashtriya Samaj Paksh (RSP) registered wins on five seats in the Gujarat civic polls, the results of which were announced on Wednesday.
RSP president Mahadev Jankar said the winning candidates include four in Vadodara Municipal Corporation and one in Padra Municipal Council in Vadodara district.
The victors in the Vadodara civic body are Rajesh Ayire, Poornima Ayire, Viren Rami and Hemlata Gor. Bhavesh Patel won in the Padra civic body, Jankar said.
The 13-year-old party, which has a single legislator in the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly, is a constituent of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party-Shiv Sena combine in the state.
Founded in 2003, the party representing backward and nomadic communities has been steadily growing both in clout and vote share, and has also contested parliament elections in Maharashtra, Gujarat, Karnataka and Assam.