Sena ditches BJP in council poll

In another indication of the growing rift between the saffron allies, Shiv Sena corporators did not cast their second-preference votes for the BJP’s legislative council candidate Madhu Chavan, leading to his defeat by Ashok ‘Bhai’ Jagtap of the Congress.

The Sena’s Ramdas Kadam won the other seat from the BMC constituency comfortably. All 81 Sena corporators cast their votes in his favour, without splitting them into first and second preferences.

The Sena ditched its ally on the plea that it had to ensure Kadam’s victory. Ravindra Waikar, standing committee chairman, said Kadam could have been in trouble if the party had cast second-preference votes for Chavan.

Kadam, leader of the opposition in the previous assembly, had lost the election from Guhagar after forcing the BJP to part with the seat.

The Congress has 76 corporators and the BJP, 29. A candidate needs 75 votes to win. BJP leaders said Chavan would have won if the Sena had cast its second-preference votes for him. “The Sena did not keep its promise,” Ashish Shelar said.