In a decisive display of political strength, Shiv Sena MLA and former minister Abdul Sattar has delivered a stunning blow to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the Sillod Municipal Council elections. The results, declared on Sunday, saw Sattar's faction secure an overwhelming majority, effectively routing the opposition led by former Union minister Raosaheb Danve.
A Resounding Mandate in Sillod
The electoral battle for the Sillod civic body concluded with a one-sided victory for the Shiv Sena. The party swept 25 out of the 28 seats, leaving the BJP with just three. The triumph was further cemented when Sattar's son, Abdul Sameer, comfortably clinched the council president's post. He defeated BJP candidate Manoj Morellu by a huge margin, despite intense opposition campaigning.
Addressing his supporters after the declaration of results, a confident Abdul Sattar launched a veiled but stinging attack on his BJP rival. "Those who came here (Sillod) dreaming of defeating us have been routed in their own turf," Sattar said. He added, "People who cannot protect their home ground were pretending to campaign against us in Sillod." This remark was a direct reference to the setbacks faced by the BJP in Bhokardan, the home turf of Raosaheb Danve in Jalna district.
Danve's Campaign Fails to Make an Impact
The election campaign had witnessed high-voltage political mobilisation. Former five-time MP Raosaheb Danve personally led the charge against Sattar and his backed candidates. In the final phase, Danve held a public meeting in Sillod, directly targeting the Shiv Sena MLA. Notably, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, who addressed rallies elsewhere in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar district, skipped Sillod.
However, these efforts proved futile. Sattar's triumph was achieved without any formal alliances, relying solely on his local clout and organisational strength. Sena insiders pointed out that the margin of victory reflected a strong voter endorsement of Sattar's leadership and his development-centric narrative. Post-results, Sattar remarked that even the presence of senior BJP leaders failed to influence the voters of Sillod.
Broader Implications for the Region
The victory has significant ramifications for the political landscape of the district. Sattar claimed that his influence disrupted BJP's calculations in neighbouring constituencies as well, citing the party's reverses in Phulambri and Kannad. He specifically highlighted that Bhokardan, Danve's home turf, and Kannad, represented by Danve's daughter Sanjana Jadhav, also witnessed BJP setbacks in the recent civic polls.
Following the declaration of results, elated Shiv Sena workers celebrated with victory rallies and fireworks. Calling the verdict a clear mandate, Abdul Sattar stated that voters had rejected attempts to defeat him through power and money, thereby reaffirming their trust in his leadership. The outcome marks a significant consolidation of Sattar's dominance in Sillod politics and a corresponding erosion of BJP and Danve's influence in the Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar district.
