Pune: Vijay Mugut Sathe, a candidate from ward number 1 at Valen in Mulshi tehsil, won by a single vote in the Gram Panchayat elections, results of which were announced on Monday (January 18). What proved crucial for this candidate was the one vote cast by his ailing grandmother 113-year-old Sarubai Shankar Sathe on the voting day who died on the same evening after exercising her franchise. Interestingly Sathe had lost the election by one vote in 2010.

Vijay Sathe received 127 votes while his opponent Sanjay Chindhu Sathe got 126 votes and the third candidate Yashwant Kisan Dhamale got 13 votes. The vote counting process was carried out in the presence of Tehsildar Abhay Chavhan.

According to sources, Sarubai Sathe was not feeling well for 15 days before the voting day. She somehow managed to reach the polling booth and cast her vote. After she returned from voting, she breathed her last at her home at around 10 pm.

Vijay Sathe had won the election by 27 votes in 2005. However he had filled the form incorrectly and had to lose his seat. In 2010 elections he lost by one vote. In 2015, he won the elections unopposed. However, in 2021, he had to face opposition from his village.

Speaking with media persons, Sathe said, "My grandmother's vote was the most important which has helped me win today. I wish she was alive to see me win and that would have had doubled my happiness."