The Shiv Sena has won both bypolls for gram panchayats in the Union Territory of Dadra and Nagar Haveli, which is a first (DNH). The results indicated that Raghubhai Dhodiya won by 82 votes in Kocha gram panchayat while Vijaybhai Kinary won by 117 votes in Galonda. The findings came a day before the DNH Lok Sabha by-election, which will be declared on Tuesday.
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As a result, it was a straight fight between the Shiv Sena and the BJP, with Congress fielding no candidates. The Sena was successful in both elections, beating BJP candidates. Surprisingly, Mahesh Gavit, the BJP candidate in Saturday’s DNH Lok Sabha bypolls, is from Kocha village. This is also the first time the Shiv Sena has run in these elections.
“All credit must go to Mohanbhai Delkar, who gave his life for the people of the region.” The people have shown their sorrow over Mohanbhai’s death by choosing us. “This is the first election in which Shiv Sena candidates have won both seats,” Dhodiya stated. Kalaben Delkar, Mohan Delkar’s widow and a Shiv Sena candidate in the DNH Lok Sabha bypolls, congratulated the candidates, as did her son Abhinav.
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The death of two incumbent JD(U) members, Raman Dhodiya from Kocha and Shailesh Patel from Galonda gram panchayat, forced the gram panchayat by-elections. Both were backed by the late DNH MP Mohan Delkar and his supporters. On October 17, by-elections were conducted. The counting was originally set on October 20; however, it was postponed following the DNH Lok Sabha bypoll results. Following that, on Monday, the counting took place in Silvassa.
