BJP's Devendra Fadnavis Earns Praise From Shiv Sena After Rajya Sabha Win

Shiv Sena said that those thinking the result has made the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government in Maharashtra unstable are living in a fool's paradise.

Undeterred by the defeat of its candidate at the hands of the BJP in a bitterly contested Rajya Sabha polls last week, the Shiv Sena on Monday said those who are thinking that the result has made the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government in Maharashtra unstable are living in a fool's paradise.

In an editorial in Shiv Sena mouthpiece 'Saamana', the MVA lead party, in a rare move, praised BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis for his "cleverness and astute poll management", but said luck also played a role as the election was dragged to second round which saw BJP's Dhananjay Mahadik trounce Shiv Sena candidate Sanjay Pawar for the sixth seat in the June 10 polls to the Upper House of Parliament.

The party pointed out that said while Shiv Sena candidate Mr Pawar secured 33 votes in the first round of preferential votes, Mr Mahadik secured only 27.

Mr Fadnavis, a former CM, is widely credited for his election management that ensured Dhananjay Mahadik's win on the back of support from independents and MLAs from smaller parties.