Blow To Uddhav Thackeray Ahead Of BMC Election As Several Local Leaders Join Shinde Sena

Deputy CM Eknath Shinde received a boost as several leaders and thousands of workers joined the Shiv Sena today.

Maharashtra's Deputy CM Eknath Shinde

Source : @mieknathshinde

Eknath Shinde vs Uddhav Thackeray: Former Mumbai Mayor and Shiv Sena UBT faction's deputy leader Datta Dalvi, along with hundreds of workers, joined the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena on Tuesday. They joined the party in the presence of Maharashtra's Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, minister Bharat Gogavale, MP Sandeepan Bhumre, and Shiv Sena leader Minatai Kamble.

Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde said, "After the Mahayuti government came to power in Maharashtra, the work of cleaning Mumbai is underway. For the first time since British rule, the Mahayuti government has cleaned the streets of Mumbai. Before this, some people (Shiv Sena UBT chief Uddhav Thackeray) had cleaned out Mumbai's treasury." 

The development comes ahead of the pending Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections.

Saffron Flag Will Fly High In BMC Election: Shinde

Deputy Chief Minister Shinde further said, "Some people considered the Mumbai Municipal Corporation their fiefdom, but after the Mahayuti government came to power, stalled projects have been expedited. Work is underway to assert Mumbaikars' rights and healthcare services."

So far, 45 to 50 corporators from the UBT faction have walked over to the Shinde-led Shiv Sena. Around 70 current corporators from various parties have joined Shiv Sena Shinde. Shinde expressed confidence that the saffron flag of the Mahayuti will fly high in the upcoming Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation elections.

Shinde said, "For the past two and a half years, leaders and workers from all parties have been joining Shiv Sena to carry forward the ideals of Balasaheb Thackeray and Dharmaveer Anand Dighe and to expedite development projects. In the Assembly, we won 60 out of 80 seats. While the UBT faction won only 20 out of 100 seats. The people have decided which is the real Shiv Sena."

Who Joined Shinde's Sena? 

Along with Datta Dalvi, more than 500 workers, including women's wing presidents, branch heads, and sub-branch heads from Dharavi, Vikhroli, Kanjur, Bhandup and Mulund, joined the Shiv Sena. This dealt a severe blow to the UBT faction in the Vikhroli area.

The taluka heads, deputy taluka heads, department heads, assembly constituency coordinators and Yuva Sena officials from Murbad also joined Shiv Sena Shinde.

In Jalgaon district, about 2000 workers from Congress, UBT and Nationalist Congress (Sharad Pawar faction) joined the Shinde-led Shiv Sena. Eighteen sarpanchs from Mangalwedha taluka of Solapur also joined the Shiv Sena. 22 district presidents of the OBC Mahasangh from Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, officials of the Hindustan Chitrapat Kamgar Sena, and many Christians also joined hands with Shinde.