Shivaji's Descendant Loses Satara By-Poll, Shiv Sena Says 'His Defeat Was Imminent'

Mumbai: The Shiv Sena on Friday said that BJP MP Udayanraje Bhosale’s (a direct descendant of the 17th century Maratha king Chhatrapati Shivaji) was imminent as she switched sides just before the by-elections. Bhosale, a former NCP leader, tasted defeat at the hands of Sharad Pawar-led party’s Shriniwas Patil in the Western Maharashtra’s Satara seat. Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut said turncoats will be rejected by the voters and do not deserve a place in politics. “Udayanraje Bhosale(descendant of Shivaji Maharaj) changed his side before the elections, his defeat was imminent. If he had to join BJP, he should have done it earlier. People had already decided that those who change their side should not remain in politics,” Raut said. BJP leader Udayanraje Bhosale may have faced a shock defeat in the Satara Lok Sabha bypoll in Maharashtra but he says he’s not "finished" yet. "Have lost today, but haven't stopped. Haven't won, but also not finished," Bhosale tweeted in Marathi. Bhosale thanked his workers and the people who voted for him in the October 21 election. A multiple-time former Member of Parliament from the Sharad Pawar-led NCP, Bhosale secured 5, 48,903 votes, while Patil garnered 6, 36,620 votes. The bypoll was necessitated after sitting MP Bhosale quit the NCP and resigned from the post to join the ruling BJP last month. The bypoll result was announced on Thursday. (With inputs from Agencies)