Shinde Sena's internal rift spills onto streets; Protest against Janjal

Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar: Simmering tensions within the Shinde faction of Shiv Sena erupted publicly over the appointment of a co-opted corporator. Vinod Bankar, a known loyalist of District Guardian Minister Sanjay Shirsat, had been eyeing the post.

Passed over for the position, Bankar and his supporters gathered at Kranti Chowk on Monday and staged ‘Jode Maro’ protest, beating slippers on a portrait of the district chief and Deputy Mayor Rajendra Janjal, accompanied by loud sloganeering.

The internal discontent within the Shinde Sena has been simmering for months. It flared up again when the party was allotted one co-opted corporator seat at Monday's general body meeting of the Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar Municipal Corporation.

Several party office-bearers were in the running, but district chief Janjal recommended Shubham Kale, whose appointment was duly approved. When Bankar, a staunch Shirsat loyalist, learned he had been overlooked, he and his supporters took to the streets.

The group beat slippers on Janjal's portrait at Kranti Chowk and raised slogans: "Shiv Sena Zindabad," "Guardian Minister Sanjay Shirsat, move forward, we are with you," and "Rajendra Janjal Murdabad." The slogans reverberated across the Kranti Chowk area.

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Background

The cold war between Shirsat and Janjal dates back to disagreements over alliance-building ahead of the Municipal elections. Their rivalry was again on display at last Wednesday's party review meeting, where the rift between the two leaders was clearly visible.

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"The decision was not mine alone. Shubham Kale was appointed at the direction of senior leaders. Vinod Bankar's ward already has four corporators, whereas Kale's ward has none from our party; this appointment will strengthen our presence there. There is no place for casteism in our party."

( Rajendra Janjal, Deputy Mayor and District Chief, Shinde Sena)