BJP's Prabhakar Shinde Clinches Narrow Victory in BMC Ward 106
In a dramatic turn of events, BJP candidate Prabhakar Shinde staged a late comeback to win the BMC elections in Ward 106 of Mulund East. Shinde defeated his rival Satyawan Dalvi from the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) by a slim margin of just 164 votes.
A Tense Counting Process with Sharp Swings
The counting process at the Priyadarshini Sports Complex kept everyone on edge. Satyawan Dalvi started strong, taking an early lead in the first round with 4,111 votes. He maintained his advantage through the third round, where he polled 11,186 votes.
Prabhakar Shinde, a former leader of the House in the BMC and ex-BJP group leader, trailed behind with 10,940 votes at that stage. MNS workers gathered outside the complex, raising slogans and anticipating a win for Dalvi as the race seemed to tilt in his favor.
Shinde's Fourth-Round Surge Seals the Deal
However, Shinde turned the tables completely in the fourth and final round. He overtook Dalvi to secure a total of 11,897 votes, clinching the seat in a nail-biting finish. This victory marks Shinde's fifth term as a corporator, having previously won in 1997, 2002, 2007, and 2017.
Significance of the Win and Shinde's Political Journey
The win holds great significance for Prabhakar Shinde, a senior politician now seen as a strong contender for the mayor's post in Mumbai. He began his political career with the Shiv Sena but switched to the BJP ahead of the 2017 civic polls.
Despite facing political hostility from his former Sena colleagues, Shinde has consistently focused on civic issues. His campaign promises for Mulund East include:
- A new petrol pump
- A swimming pool
- A drama theatre
- A playground
- A new police chowky
- A general parking lot
- A public complaint redressal centre
- A BEST bus depot
Shinde's narrow victory underscores the competitive nature of Mumbai's local politics, where every vote counts in shaping the city's future.
