The contest for the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections in Ward 194 has turned into a key political flashpoint, pitting Shiv Sena (UBT) candidate Nishikant Shinde against Samadhan Sarvankar of the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena. The ward falls in the G South division of Prabhadevi, an area in central Mumbai that once served as a strong ideological base for the united Shiv Sena. After winning ward 194 in BMC Elections, Nishikant Shinde says, "This is not my win, but the victory of Shiv Sena (UBT), MNS and the public of this area... I will work with the aim of serving each and every person in the city..."
Nishikant Shinde secured a decisive victory in the Prabhadevi–Dadar belt, winning by a margin of 592 votes, reported The Week. His success comes even as the Mahayuti alliance, comprising the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena and the BJP, maintains an overall advantage with 109 seats compared to the Thackeray brothers’ 67. The contest carried personal significance for Nishikant Shinde, the brother of Shiv Sena (UBT) MLA Sunil Shinde, as he had to edge out MNS leader Santosh Dhuri to get the party ticket.
As per an ABP Majha report, Nishikant Shinde’s candidature in Ward 194 was also seen as a political reward. It followed his brother Sunil Shinde’s decision to vacate the Worli constituency for Aditya Thackeray and the allocation of Ward 192 to the MNS. Nishikant Shinde reportedly banked on strong local connections and the emotional appeal of Shiv Sena (UBT)’s claim of being the “real Shiv Sena” in his fight against Sarvankar.