Maharashtra: Setback in Jalgaon, boost in Matheran for BJP

For BJP it was a victory of sorts when the party scored a point over its political arch rival Shiv Sena when 10 members of Matheran Municipal Council joined their fold quitting the Sena. It came after six members of Muktainagar Nagar Panchayat from Jalgaon district ditched BJP to join Shiv Sena on Wednesday.

The members from Muktainagar, though technically with the BJP, were close supporters of ex-minister Eknath Khadse who quit BJP to join NCP in October last year. The town is the native of Khadse and quitting of six of his acolytes is viewed as a setback for him. They joined Shiv Sena in presence of Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray at Matoshree in Mumbai. It should be noted here that relations between Khadse and Shiv Sena leaders from Jalgaon are not on cordial terms. Sena minister from Jalgaon Gulabrao Patil and Muktainagar MLA Chandrakant Patil were present when the members were inducted into the Sena fold.

On Thursday, BJP inducted 10 Sena members, including the vice-president, of the Matheran municipal council at Kolhapur in the presence of state BJP chief Chandrakant Patil. Ex-minister and party general secretary Ravindra Chavan, Raigad district present MLA Prashant Thakur, both of whom played an important role in this episode were also present on the occasion.