Shiv Sena wins Bandra East by-poll in Maharashtra

Mumbai, April 15 (IANS) Shiv Sena candidate Trupti Sawant was elected to the Maharashtra assembly in the prestigious by-poll from Bandra East constituency here, trouncing her chief rival, Congress candidate and former chief minister Narayan Rane, officials said here on Wednesday.

Sawant, widow of former Sena strongman Bala Sawant, secured a victory margin of over 19,000 votes, comfortably defeating the Congress’ Rane and All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul-Muslimeen’s (AIMIM) Raja Rahbar Khan, who stood a distant third.

The outcome indicated a serious setback to Rane’s attempts to salvage his political career and future prospects.

The by-election last Saturday in Bandra East was necessitated following the death of Sena strongman and sitting legislator Bala Sawant.