BMC Elections 2017: BJP bravado breaks through Sena bastions
Sena corporator Yashodhar Phanse, who has a major presence in Versova and has emerged victorious in the last three elections, lost to BJP candidate Yogiraj Dhabhalkar
The BJP has managed to break into the Shiv Sena bastions of Girgaon and Versova. The Shiv Sena candidate from ward number 218, Meenal Juvatkar, lost to BJP candidate Anuradha Potdar,
Sena corporator Yashodhar Phanse, who has a major presence in Versova (ward number 60) and has emerged victorious in the last three elections, lost to BJP candidate Yogiraj Dhabhalkar. In the Marathi heartland of Dadar, Sena candidate Vishakha Raut managed to sneak out a win after trailing in the first few hours of counting of votes. Shiv Sena candidate Surendra Bagalkar from Girgaum (ward number 220) also lost out to BJP's candidate Atul Shah. "In Dadar and Girgaon, the Marathi vote got divided, allowing the BJP to make in-roads. The non-Marathi votes went in favour of the BJP candidates. The educated youths voted for change," said a political observer on condition of anonymity.