Shiv Sena wins Bhiwandi seat

After successive debacles in the Lok Sabha and state assembly elections in Maharashtra, the beleagured Shiv Sena on Saturday received a much-needed boost when it won the politically-sensitive Bhiwandi seat, defeating the Samajwadi Party and Congress candiates.

It was called a birthday gift for Sena supremo Bal Thackeray who turned 84 today.

Sena nominee Rupesh Mhatre won by 1,676 votes, defeating his nearest rival and the Samajwadi Party candidate, Farahan Azmi. Ironically, the Congress, which had made a prestige, lost badly, as its nominee Muzaffar Hussain came third.

Despite all-out efforts by the Congress and its ally the Nationalist Congress Party, Hussain, who hails from the Mira Bhyander area of Thane district, failed to turn the swing in his favour. On the other hand, Shiv Sena, who succeeded to quell rebellion by making former legislator, Yogesh Patil, to withdraw, managed to gain the confidence of Hindu votes in particular.