Thane, Dec. 22 -- The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Sunday secured the municipal council president's post in both Ambernath and Badlapur in Thane district, dealing a blow to the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena in its stronghold. BJP candidates Tejashree Karanjule in Ambernath, and Ruchita Ghorpade in Badlapur, defeated Shiv Sena candidates Manisha Wadekar and Veena Mhatre, respectively, though the BJP could win only 14 out of 59 seats in the Ambernath Municipal Council, while the Shiv Sena won 27 seats and the Congress won 12 seats. The Sena had been in power in Ambernath for more than two decades. In the neighbouring Kulgaon-Badlapur Municipal Council, the BJP and Shiv Sena won 23 seats each out of the 49 seats, while the Ajit Pawar-led NCP got three seats. The Shiv Sena had entrusted responsibility for the Ambernath and Badlapur municipal council elections to Shrikant Shinde, Member of Parliament from Kalyan and son of Sena chief and deputy chief minister Eknath Shinde. In both places, the party was involved in a direct contest with the BJP, and both chief minister Devendra Fadnavis and deputy CM Shinde had addressed rallies in support of their respective candidates. Concerns arose over worsening law and order in the area after unidentified assailants fired outside the residence of BJP candidate Pawan Walekar a few days before polling. The BJP alleged the attackers were linked to the Shiv Sena. Eventually, Walekar went on to win his seat. BJP workers credited the party's stellar performance in both Ambernath and Badlapur to a last minute rally addressed by the CM. Fadnavis promised 15-coach local trains from Badlapur and Ambernath at a frequency of every 10 minutes and assured that the city's water shortage would be resolved within two years with the completion of two dams. He also highlighted improved road connectivity between Ambernath, Badlapur, and Mumbai....