Thane, Jan. 2 -- Shiv Sena secured an unopposed victory in three wards of the Thane Municipal Corporation on Friday ahead of the Maharashtra local body elections. The party workers and supporters celebrated soon after the opposition party backed out, and the leader was elected unopposed.

The polling for 29 municipal corporation elections across the state, including Mumbai, Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad, will be held on January 15, with vote counting scheduled for January 16.

Speaking to reporters, Shiv Sena's winning candidate from ward number 18, Sukhada Sanjay More, said that rival candidates had withdrawn their nominations and that the "public is standing with Eknath Shinde".

"There was a candidate from another party and one from the Co...