Maharashtra News: In a jolt to former Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray, Shiv Sena (UBT) MLA Ravindra Waikar joined the Shiv Sena led by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Sunday. Waikar, who is the MLA from Mumbai's Jogeshwari area, is being probed by the Enforcement Directorate in connection with the alleged misuse of a civic plot to build a luxury hotel. He is also a close aide and was present in a meeting with the former in the Mumbai North West parliamentary seat a day earlier.
Waikar joined the Shinde-led group at 'Varsha', the official residence of the chief minister in Malabar Hill. Eknath Shinde welcomed Waikar into his faction.
Speaking on the occasion, the Maharashtra CM took a swipe at the Shiv Sena (UBT) faction and said that Waikar joined the real Shiv Sena, which was going on the ideology of Babasaheb Thackeray.
"Ravindra Waikar joined the real Shiv Sena, which was going on the ideology of Babasaheb Thackeray... He knows that this government is working for the people of Maharashtra. I welcome Waikar to Shiv Sena...We convert negative things into positive," Shinde said.
Waikar joined the Shiv Sena which is inspired by the ideals of late Bal Thackeray, the CM said. He is a former standing committee chairman of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation, a four time corporator, and has been an MLA from Jogeshwari for four terms. According to PTI, the MLA is being probed by the ED in a case registered for allegedly misleading the BMC and obtaining permission fraudulently between January and July 2021 to construct a luxury hotel on a plot along Jogeshwari-Vikhroli Link Road earmarked for sports and entertainment purposes.
According to the FIR, the plot was allotted to Waikar and others for public utilisation but they allegedly used it for commercial purposes to earn several crore rupees.
Speaking after joining the CM's faction, Waikar claimed he had worked in the Shiv Sena for 50 years and had switched sides for the development of his constituency, which needs roads and water supply and where many works had been held up due to the COVID-19 pandemic. "Shinde is taking quick decisions on development works. If these works are not completed, I cannot face my people," Waikar said, as quoted by PTI.