Shiv Sena UBT faces setback as two former MLAs and three former Mumbai corporators join Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena on Tuesday. Former Dapoli MLA Sanjay Kadam, former Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar MLA Bhausaheb Patil Chikatgaonkar, and former corporators Umesh Patil (Bhandup), Anjali Naik (Chembur), and Lochana Chavan (Goregaon) were among those who switched allegiance.
Along with Chikatgaonkar, former mayor Sabir Khan and former zilla parishad president Dinkar Bapu Pawar from Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar joined the Shinde Sena under the leadership of MLA Ramesh Bornare. Several office bearers, branch heads, deputy branch heads, and women’s wing members also followed suit.
Shinde said Sanjay Kadam’s return to the Shiv Sena, founded by Balasaheb Thackeray, marks a strengthening of the party in the Konkan region. He also mentioned that the Mahayuti candidates had won in all constituencies except one in Konkan. Shinde expressed confidence that the entire Konkan region would soon be fully aligned with the Shiv Sena.
Shinde took a dig at the opposition, stating that Rs 3,000 crore had been allocated to MLAs for development over the past two-and-a-half years. He emphasized that it was not just 50 khokhas (Rs 50 crore) but 3,000 khokhas (Rs 3,000 crore) allocated for development.