With the BMC's improvement panel shooting down the proposed widening of South Mumbai's Siri Road, the Shiv Sena has used the plank to make its way into upscale Malabar Hill.

While the issue brought to light the turf war between the Sena and its alliance partner BJP, the move is being seen as the Sena's bid to make inroads into the posh residential locality ahead of the BMC polls scheduled for February 2017. The area has for long has been a BJP bastion.

While local BJP legislator Mangal Prabhat Lodha had backed the project, it was the Sena which ensured that it was voted down in the BMC by roping in other political parties.

"A big win for Mumbaikars and Mumbai's environment. I thank all residents of Malabar Hill, ALM, South Mumbai MP Arvind Sawant and all Parties who stepped above politics to save Kamla Nehru Park," Yuva Sena chief Aaditya Thackeray tweeted on Wednesday.

"Aaditya was opposed to the project since local residents were opposed to it. The road widening would have led to many trees being hacked. It would have destroyed Kamla Nehru Park. Now, the residents are with the Sena. We have got a foothold in Malabar Hill," said a senior Sena corporator.

The Sena had deployed local coporator Anil Singh to mobilize residents. While the Sena had tried to woo South Mumbai residents before the assembly polls with its plan to revive the city's nightlife, the move did not work. The Sena lost both the Malabar Hill and Colaba seats to the BJP. Aaditya had campaigned extensively for its candidates Pandurang Sakpal and Arun Dudhwadkar for the assembly polls.

Late Sena leader Pramod Navalkar was the last party legislator from the area in the 1970s. The BJP has dominated the region since.

"There are several localities that are upscale and which have been dominated by the BJP or the Congress. So, the party leadership has decided to change our approach and back the residents. The Siri road victory has helped us connect with ALMs, resident associations and citizen groups who were away from us," the leader added.

The BMC proposed removal of 74 trees from Kamla Nehru Park area, close to Hanging Gardens, to convert a pedestrian lane into a road. Malabar Hill residents feared it will disturb stability of rocks in the area. The Siri Road is motorable for only 300m, and BMC had plans to extend it by another 300m to ensure vehicles are able to access the road to reach Hanging Gardens via Ridge Road.