KDMC Election Results: Shinde Faction and BJP Dominate in Kalyan-Dombivli
The Kalyan-Dombivli Municipal Corporation election has delivered a clear political message. Voters in this region have reaffirmed their support for the ruling Mahayuti alliance. This alliance is led by Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and includes the Bharatiya Janata Party.
A Stronghold Confirms Its Loyalty
Kalyan-Dombivli has long been considered a bastion for Eknath Shinde and his son, MP Shrikant Shinde. The recent civic polls served as the first major electoral test here since the Shiv Sena split. The results show a consolidation of power for the Shinde faction and its BJP allies.
The Shinde-led Shiv Sena emerged as the single-largest party. It secured 52 seats in the corporation. Its ally, the BJP, delivered an equally impressive performance. The BJP won 51 seats, marking a significant gain from previous elections.
Breaking Down the Numbers
Let's look at the seat tally from this election:
- Shiv Sena (Shinde faction): 52 seats
- Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP): 51 seats
- Shiv Sena (UBT): 11 seats
- Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS): 5 seats
The BJP's performance shows notable improvement. In the 2017 civic polls, the party had won 42 seats. This time, they gained nine additional seats, bringing their total to 51. Party leaders are crediting this success to Maharashtra BJP president Ravindra Chavan. Chavan, who is also the MLA from Dombivli, played a key role in the campaign. He worked to ensure victory for a maximum number of BJP corporators.
Meanwhile, the Shinde faction's Shiv Sena repeated its previous tally of 52 seats. The party's strike rate was high, winning 52 out of the 67 seats it contested. The BJP recorded an even higher strike rate, winning 51 of the 57 seats it fought.
Opposition Struggles to Make Headway
While most BJP candidates won comfortably, the Shinde-led Shiv Sena faced some resistance. In several wards, the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena and the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT) managed to make inroads. However, their overall gains were limited.
The Shiv Sena (UBT) secured 11 seats. The MNS won five seats, which is a drop from its 2015 performance when it had won nine seats. Local UBT leaders, speaking off the record, offered an explanation for their limited success. They pointed to the absence of senior leadership during the campaign.
According to these leaders, neither Uddhav Thackeray nor Aditya Thackeray visited Kalyan-Dombivli even once. This lack of high-profile campaigning, they believe, ultimately benefited the BJP and the Shinde-led Shiv Sena. The election results have firmly placed the region under the control of the ruling alliance, setting the stage for the next phase of local governance.
