SAI party candidate on last day of campaigning, extends support to Shiv Sena’s candidate

ULHASNAGAR: A significant political development unfolded in Ulhasnagar on the final day of election campaigning on Tuesday when SAI Party candidate Sunil Gangwani from Panel No. 5 announced his support for Shiv Sena candidate Vicky Bhullar.

Gangwani appealed to his supporters to cast their votes in favour of Bhullar.

Panel No. 5 in Ulhasnagar has emerged as one of the most high-profile and closely watched panels in the ongoing municipal elections. The contest in this panel is primarily seen as a battle between the Kalani and Ailani camps because Ex-MLA Pappu Kalani's daughter Seema Kalani contesting against BJP MLA Kumar Ailani's wife Meena Ailani.




The panel comprises four wards, where the political stakes are particularly high.

This election has added significance for Shiv Sena, as Kalani has received the backing of Bhullar Maharaj, a senior and influential Shiv Sena leader in Ulhasnagar. His son, Vicky Bhullar, is contesting from Panel No. 5, making the outcome a matter of prestige not only for the Kalani and Ailani groups but also for Bhullar Maharaj.

The presence of a SAI Party candidate in the same panel had earlier created confusion and concerns of vote division within the Shiv Sena-led alliance. Political observers believed that a split in votes could potentially benefit the BJP.

To avoid such a scenario, the SAI Party—an ally of Shiv Sena at the local level on instructions of Shiv Sena MP Dr Shrikant Shinde—took a strategic decision to support Vicky Bhullar.

Accordingly, Sunil Gangwani formally on Tuesday afternoon before election campaign end holding press conference declared support to Vicky Bhullar from seat.

The move is expected to consolidate votes in favour of Shiv Sena candidates in Panel No. 5 and strengthen their prospects in the tightly contested race.