The Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena emerged as the largest winner in the Kalyan-Dombivli Municipal Corporation’s ward committee chairperson elections, securing five of the 10 posts, while the BJP won four and the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena took one after its candidate was elected unopposed.
The results strengthen the Shinde Sena’s position in the civic body while giving the MNS a foothold through Sheetal Mandhari’s uncontested election as chairperson of the D ward committee. The Shinde Sena and BJP are allies in the KDMC, and the MNS has five members supporting the Shinde Sena.
The elections were held on Wednesday in the presence of Thane district collector Krishna Panchal. Several contests ended without a poll after rival candidates withdrew their nominations or did not remain in the contest.
The Shinde Sena won the A, J, G, E and B ward committee posts. Bandesh Jadhav was elected from A ward, Darshana Kale from J ward, Suraj Marathe from G ward, Arjun Patil from E ward and Supriya Bhoir from B ward.
The BJP secured the I, F, C and H ward committees. Saroj Rai won from I ward, Manda Patil from F ward, Meghali Khema from C ward and Ravina Mhatre from H ward.
Mandhari’s election in D ward followed the withdrawal of rival nominations, allowing the MNS candidate to be elected unopposed. In C ward, Shiv Sena candidate Pratik Penkar and NCP (Sharadchandra Pawar) candidate Rameez Maniyar withdrew, clearing the way for Khema. In H ward, MNS candidate Sandesh Patil and Shiv Sena candidate Rekha Mhatre withdrew before Mhatre’s election.
The withdrawals also shaped the outcomes in G and E wards. BJP candidate Kavita Mhatre withdrew from the G ward contest, enabling the Shinde Sena’s Suraj Marathe to win unopposed. In E ward, BJP candidate Ravina Mali’s withdrawal cleared the way for Shiv Sena candidate Arjun Patil.
The Shiv Sena (UBT), which fielded candidates for the B and I ward committees, failed to secure either post. The B ward position went to the Shinde Sena, while the BJP won I ward.
Mandhari’s unopposed election triggered criticism from Shiv Sena (UBT) group leader Umesh Borgaonkar. He questioned the BJP’s support for an MNS candidate despite earlier statements that the party would not share power with the Raj Thackeray-led organisation. Borgaonkar also referred to allegations that MNS leaders had insulted BJP leaders and accused the BJP of changing its position for political power.
The distribution leaves the Shinde Sena with the largest share of KDMC ward committee chairperson posts, followed by the BJP, while the MNS has secured one committee through the alliance arrangement. The immediate civic consequence will be the functioning of the 10 ward committees under this new distribution of political control.
