NASHIK, Dec 18: The Shiv Sena with the help of Congress and Republican Party of India (RPI), defeated the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the election to the Chairmanship of the Trimbakeshwar Municipal Council on Wednesday. Elections to the 17-member council controlled by the Congress, were held on December 7.

BJP emerged the single-largest party and won six seats. The Sena bagged three, and independents, eight. BJP and the Sena did not form an alliance, though Sena formed an alliance with independents.

On Wednesday, the BJP nominee Girish Dikshit was defeated by Sena nominee Dilip Shelar by a crucial single vote. Shelar earned nine votes while Dikshit secured eight. This has strained relations between local Sena and BJP leaders with the latter accusing the former of forging an unholy alliance.

The Sena then installed former chairman and local Congress leader Yadavrao Tungar as a co-opted member. BJP succeeded in only getting one member Dilip Jadhav as a co-opted member.

The Sena led a victory procession, displaying Sena, Congress and RPI flags. This annoyed BJP on the eve of the Lok Sabha polls in which Sena's sitting MP, Rajabhau Godse, may be nominated. This may affect BJP's support to Sena in the Nashik Lok Sabha constituency in the ensuing polls.

Copyright © 1997 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.