NEWSMAKERS OF THE POLLS

WINNERS INCLUDED MANY FACES, FROM THE RICHEST TO THE YOUNGEST. THERE WERE ALSO KNOWN FACES WHO LOST. BJP’s star candidate Parag Shah, who also happens to be the richest candidate contesting the BMC polls, with declared assets worth `690 crore, defeated four-time corporator and leader of opposition Pravin Chheda. He won by a margin of 2,800 votes in the Gujarati stronghold of Ghatkopar. Prominent leaders such as leader of the House in the BMC, Trushna Vishwasrao and Law Committee chairman Krishna Parkar, gave a tough fight to their opponents, in Wadala and Khar areas respectively. However, they lost in a close fight — Ms Vishwasrao with a gap of just seven votes, whereas Mr Parkar lost by 17 votes. In one of many surprises, leaders from different parties who were darlings of the voters did not get elected. The list includes Shiv Sena’s Yashodhar Phanse (standing committee chairman), Sheetal Mhatre INC (Mahila Vibhag Pramuk), and Congress’s Devendra Amberkar (ex leader of the opposition). The BJP’s Ritu Tawde, who moved a proposal to get the civic body to ban mannequins wearing bras and panties being displayed back in 2013, lost her seat.

Ms Tawde lost from ward number 127 in the Ghatkopar area. She forfeited her place among Wednesday’s newly elected 227 corporators to Shiv Sena’s Suresh Patil. Vinod Shelar, the brother of Mumbai BJP’s chief Ashish Shelar, lost to Shiv Sena’s Swapnil Tembwalkar from ward number 51 in Goregaon. Mr Shelar was also a member of the standing committee of BMC and chairman of the education committee. The particular seat is a part of the P/south ward. Shiv Sena’s 21-year-old candidate, Priyanka Patil, has created history by becoming the youngest corporator in the Thane Municipal Corporation (TMC).

She won from Ganpatipada Kalva Prabhag 24. Ms Patil is in her third year of IT engineering.

SHAH UPSETS CHHEDA HOUSE LEADER LOSES BIG GUNS WHO LOST TAWDE LOSES BATTLE SIBLING IN TROUBLE CORPORATOR AT 21