Mumbai: It was a battle between the two Shiv Sena's - the Shiv Sena led by Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and the Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray).
It was the first Maharashtra Assembly election after Eknath Shinde caused a vertical split in the Shiv Sena, founded by late Balasaheb Thackeray. And the voters in the state gave a decisive mandate to the Shiv Sena won a staggering 57 seats in the 288-member House, as per the data of the Election Commission of India (ECI).
The Shiv Sena (UBT) won just 20 seats.
Take the example of the Kopri-Panchpakhadi Assembly seat in Thane, Eknath Shinde won by a margin of 120717 votes. Shiv Sena (UBT) nominee Kedar Dighe, nephew of late Anand Dighe, who is the mentor of Eknath Shinde, stood second. Even in the Ovala-Majiwada constituency in Thane district, Pratap Sarnaik, a senior Shiv Sena leader, won by 108158 votes. Shiv Sena (UBT) nominee Naresh Manera stood second.
In the coastal Konkan region, it was the Shiv Sena, who was chosen the electorate. In the Kudal constituency, Shiv Sena nominee Nilesh Rane won by a margin of 8176 votes. He defeated his nearest rival Vaibhav Naik of the Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray), who managed to poll 73483 votes. Nilesh Rane, who is the son of former Maharashtra Chief Minister Naranyan Rane, polled 81659 votes.
In the Rajapur Assembly seat in the Ratnagiri district, it was again Shiv Sena nominee Kiran Samant, who won by a margin of 19,677 votes. He defeated Rajan Salvi of the Shiv Sena (UBT).
The picture was no different in Mumbai - the state's capital and the financial capital of India. In Chembur, Shiv Sena nominee Tukaram Kate defeated Prakash Phatarphekar of the Shiv Sena (UBT).In Magathane Assembly seat in Mumbai, Shiv Sena candidate Prakash Surve defeated Shiv Sena (UBT) candidate Udesh Patekar by a margin of 58164 votes.
In Andheri East constituency in Mumbai, it was once a battle between the two Sena's and it was again the Shiv Sena which emerged victorious. Shiv Sena nominee Muraji Patel won by a margin of 25,486 votes as he defeated his nearest rival Rutuja Latke, who was fielded by the Shiv Sena (UBT).
In the Savantwadi seat, Maharashtra Minister Deepak Kesarkar, who was fielded by Shiv Sena, won by 39899 votes. The Shiv Sena (UBT) nominee Rajan Teli stood second place.
Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde said that the voters have decided which is the real Shiv Sena through their resounding mandate. He also said that he ran the government on the ideals of late Balasaheb Thackeray.
Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Minister said that the voters have given a clear mandate that Shiv Sena belongs to Eknath Shinde.
