Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar
Shiv Sena (Shinde faction) suffered a major defeat in the municipal corporation elections, falling to third place despite holding two MLAs and one MP. The party, which had ruled the corporation for 25 years, could not mount a strong challenge this time.
Party inactivity, the recent split, and caste-based politics contributed to the setback. Campaign offices were largely empty, and leaders were scarcely visible. The breakdown of the 2015 alliance with BJP further weakened Shiv Sena’s position, giving the BJP a dominant edge. Out of 99 candidates, Shiv Sena managed only 12 victories. Notable wins included Siddhant Shirsat (Prabhag 29), Harshada Sanjay Shirsat (Prabhag 18), and former deputy mayor Rajendra Janjal (Prabhag 22). Even Shivajinagar, long considered a Shiv Sena bastion, slipped from the party’s control.