Kalyan-Dombivli: The Shiv Sena (UBT) has suffered a major political setback in Kalyan–Dombivli a week before voting as its candidate extended unconditional support to the Shiv Sena led by chief minister Eknath Shinde.Ramchandra Ganpat Mane alias Bhima, the Shiv Sena (UBT) candidate from Panel No. 30 (D) in Dombivli, joined the Shiv Sena in the presence of Shiv Sena MP Shrikant Shinde.He said he would support Shiv Sena candidate Arjun Babu Patil in Panel No. 30 (D). Earlier, independent candidate Manoj Bama Patil from the same ward had announced his support for Patil. With both rival candidates withdrawing and extending unconditional backing, the contest in Panel No. 30 (D) has effectively become one-sided, and Shiv Sena is expected to secure an unopposed victory in this panel.Shrikant Shinde expressed confidence that the Mahayuti will emerge victorious in the Kalyan-Dombivli Municipal Corporation with full majority. Speaking at the inauguration of Shiv Sena’s election campaign office in Kalyan, he stated that not only the public but even the opposition is convinced that the Mahayuti will win a majority. Earlier Mahayuti’s 20 candidates were declared victorious unopposed after opponents contesting the election withdrew their nomination at the eleventh hour while two won unopposed as no candidates had filed their nominations against them.
