Deepti Potnis-Waikar, the elder daughter of Shiv Sena MP Ravindra Waikar, faced a tough defeat in the Ward 73 election in Jogeshwari East. She lost to Shiv Sena (UBT) candidate Lorna Rawat in a closely watched contest.
Election Results and Recount
Deepti secured 10,293 votes in the election. Her opponent, Lorna Rawat, polled 13,424 votes. This gave Rawat a clear lead of 3,131 votes.
After the initial count, Deepti demanded a recount. The recount confirmed her defeat. The margin remained unchanged at 3,131 votes.
Family Political Background
Ravindra Waikar is currently the Lok Sabha MP from Mumbai North-West. This constituency includes Jogeshwari. His daughter contested from the same ward that he once represented.
Deepti received the party ticket despite her mother's recent loss. Manisha Waikar lost the assembly elections just last year. She was defeated by Anant (Bala) Nar of the Shiv Sena (UBT).
Local Sentiment and Controversy
Local residents expressed strong opinions about the Waikar family. Many feel anger over their decision to desert Uddhav Thackeray and join Eknath Shinde.
Ravindra Waikar's own Lok Sabha victory added to the controversy. He won by a mere 48 votes, which sparked debates and discussions.
Ticket Allocation Drama
The party's decision to give the ticket to Deepti faced criticism. Pravin Shinde, an associate of Waikar, initially sought the ticket for his son. When the ward became a women's ward, he pushed for his daughter-in-law.
On the day Deepti filed her nomination, Shinde was rushed to a hospital. He took discharge against medical advice to inaugurate her election office. Shinde returned to the hospital and passed away days later.
After his death, Shinde's son appealed to residents to vote for Deepti. This followed a visit from deputy CM Eknath Shinde. However, public sentiment did not favor the Waikars.
Political Implications
This election loss highlights the ongoing tensions within Shiv Sena. The split between Uddhav Thackeray and Eknath Shinde factions continues to influence local politics.
The Waikar family's political future now faces uncertainty. Back-to-back election losses for family members raise questions about their standing in the party.
