India, Jan. 2 -- The scrutiny of nomination papers for the Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation (NMMC) election has delivered a tactical blow to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and paved the way for the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena's "record majority" in a key ward in the crucial Vashi division, Shiv Sena leaders told Hindustan Times.

According to data from the poll panel, a total of 956 nominations were received for the NMMC poll, of which 839 were approved while 117 were rejected at the end of the scrutiny process on December 31.

The most consequential rejection came from ward number 17 in Vashi division, where the candidature of BJP nominee Nilesh Bhojane was struck down, leaving only three BJP candidates in the fray for the four-member...