After the defeat of two of its candidates from Bhosari and Chinchwad, the split in the local unit of the Shiv Sena has widened further.

The Sena is not only racked by internal rumblings, but its relations with its long-time alliance partner, the BJP, also seems to be in trouble. One of the defeated candidates, Sulbha Ubale has come out in the open and accused BJP and Sena leaders of spoiling her "sure-shot" chances of winning the Bhosari assembly seat.

"All the BJP corporators, at least one Sena corporator and several senior leaders of the party are responsible for my defeat," thundered Ubale as she explained the reasons behind her defeat.

"I am completely stunned. I know the people who are behind my defeat," she claimed.

The Sena, which was considered a strong force in both Bhosari and Chinchwad constituencies, narrowly lost both the seats. While Ubale lost to NCP rebel Vilas Lande in Bhosari by a wafer-thin margin of 1,200 votes, Shrirang Barne was defeated by another NCP rebel Laxman Jagtap by 6,000 votes.

Right from the first round till the 18th round, Barne was ahead of Jagtap, and then fell behind in the last round (26th).

On the other hand, Ubale led from fifth round and it was only in the penultimate round (23rd) that Lande took the lead and went on to win by 1,200 votes.

Ubale said that except for BJP corporator Asha Landge, none of the BJP corporators and leaders in Bhosari area campaigned for her.

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