Maharashtra's rival coalitions, the ruling Eknath Shinde-BJP alliance and the ousted Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) have both claimed victory in Gram Panchayat or rural body elections held two days ago. The Maharashtra BJP has claimed that 259 candidates backed by the party and 40 nominees backed by the Eknath Shinde faction of the Shiv Sena have been elected as sarpanchs in the polls held on Sunday.