While most Congress and NCP veterans were being felled by the pro-incumbency wave in Maharashtra, actress-turned-politician Navneet Kaur Rana managed to trounce Shiv Sena's old warhorse Anandrao Adsul in Amravati.
Adsul's associates claim that Kaur, who is married to Ravi Rana, independent MLA from Badnera in the district, sailed through by around 37,000 votes due to the covert support of some local BJP leaders.
Ravi, a second term MLA who has his own outfit Yuva Swabhimaan, is said to be close to Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. The Sena candidate claimed said he would reach out to BJP voters, Kaur said she would support Narendra Modi as the Prime Minister if elected, which may have served as the clincher.