Shiv Sena today emerged as the single largest party in the Kalyan-Dombivali Municipal Corporation after a bitterly fought election, bagging 52 seats but falling short of a majority in the 122-member body, the battle for which saw its ties with ally BJP plunge to a new low.
After last year's impressive performance in the state assembly polls, BJP could not make any major dent in the Kolhapur Municipal Corporation where Congress emerged as the single largest party but fell short of a majority.
While Kalyan-Dombivali civic body was controlled by Shiv Sena-BJP combine, Congress-NCP alliance ruled the Kolhapur Municipal Corporation.
The BJP came second winning 42 seats in Kalyan-Dombivali civic body, sharply improving on its earlier tally of nine. Raj Thackeray-led MNS bagged nine, while Congress and NCP were relegated to the fourth position with three seats each.
The Sena, however, suffered a major loss when Mayor Kalyani Patil was defeated by BJP's Suman Nikam.
Despite being partners in the state government, the two saffron parties had snapped ties before the civic polls to the twin cities amid their never-ending slanging match over a host of issues.
In Kalyan Dombivili, Sena bagged 52, BJP 42, MNS 9, BSP 1, Congress 4 , NCP 2 , AIMIM - 1, Independents and Others - 9.
In the 81-ward Kolhapur Municipal Corporation in Western Maharashtra, Congress secured the maximum number of 27 seats, followed by NCP at 15. The BJP-led front bagged 32 seats, Sena 4 and others 3 seats.
Sena minister Eknath Shinde who handled the poll campaign in Kalyan-Dombivli, said voters did not fall prey to the 'misleading campaign' by others (BJP).
In Kolhapur, the results showed that Congress and NCP, if they come together, can form the ruling combine.
Results of municipal council elections were also declared today.
In Nagpur district, from where CM Devendra Fadnavis and Union minister Nitin Gadkari hail, NCP wrested power from BJP in the municipal council polls.
NCP also won the Jaffrabad municipal council in state BJP president Raosaheb Danve's Jalna district.
In Beed district, from where state rural development minister Pankaja Munde, daughter of BJP stalwart late Gopinath Munde, hails, NCP won majority in three of the four councils where polls were held.
Leader of Opposition in the Legislative Council Dhananjay Munde of NCP, who is also Pankaja's cousin, said "rulers should remember that voters in Beed will no longer give sympathy votes.
