Thackeray-led Shiv Sena faces exodus as Sainiks join Shinde camp ahead of civic and local body polls

Thackeray-led Shiv Sena faces exodus as Sainiks join Shinde camp ahead of civic and local body polls

Shinde camp spokesman Deepak Kesarkar confirmed that there has been an overwhelming response from Shiv Sainiks and work under the leadership of Chief Minister Eknath Shinde

Sanjay JogUpdated: Thursday, July 07, 2022, 09:14 PM IST
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Thackeray-led Shiv Sena faces exodus as Sainiks join Shinde camp ahead of civic and local body polls | PTI Photo

After 66 ex-corporators from Thane and 30 from Navi Mumbai migrated, a large chuck from other civic bodies are expected to soon join the bandwagon

Shinde camp clarifies that the Sainiks are joining on their own without any force or pressure

However, Thackeray camp claims that cadre is still with the party and with Uddhav Thackeray and they waiting for elections to teach lessons to rebels

Mumbai: After the loss of power and the formation of Eknath Shinde-Devendra Fadnavis government to pursue the Hindutva cause, there is a tsunami in Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena as the massive exodus has begun across the state with the former corporators, ex-legislators, MPs and other office bearers joining the Shinde camp under the leadership of Chief Minister Eknath Shinde. This is despite Thackeray’s repeated appeals to Shiv Sainiks to be ready for a fight and the party’s revival.

After 66 former corporators from Thane and about 30 from Navi Mumbai joined the Shinde camp, a large chunk from Kalyan-Dombivli, Ulhasnagar, Vasai-Virar, Pune, Pimpri Chinchwad, Nashik, Nagpur, Amravati, Aurangabad, Jalgaon have expressed their desire to sever their link with Thackeray-led party and migrate to Shinde camp ahead of the upcoming elections to 15 municipal corporations in the state. Former minister Gulabrao Patil claimed that 12 MPs and former 22 legislators would soon jump to the Shinde camp.

Shinde camp, which has claimed that they are the original Shiv Sena, pointed out that this was just a beginning after that district and city unit chiefs, office bearers of various organisations affiliated to Shiv Sena will also formally join them.

Shinde camp spokesman Deepak Kesarkar confirmed that there has been an overwhelming response from Shiv Sainiks and work under the leadership of Chief Minister Eknath Shinde. ‘’We are constantly getting calls from across the state and all the office bearers are inquiring about what stand they should take. They are also telling us that they are being forced to make an affidavit in the party (Thackeray camp). However, the CM has asked them to wait as he has instructed that the decision on their joining our camp will be taken mutually. CM has also said that we should be patient and should not take decisions in haste,’’ he told the Free Press Journal. He said that they respect Uddhav Thackeray.

‘’We sincerely hoped that Uddhav Thackeray should support and bless the Shiv Sena-BJP government which is resolved to function for the welfare of the people of Maharashtra,’’ said Kesarkar.

Shiv Sena deputy leader Neelam Gorhe said, ‘’At this moment it seems that some of the elected representatives have distanced from the party. However, the party leadership is trying to review and hold dialogue at different levels. We are getting constant feedback from the office bearers and elected representatives across the state who are unanimously with Uddhav Thackeray. This is true for yesterday, today and proved to be true in future also.’’

On the other hand, Thackeray’s press advisor Harshal Pradhan said, ‘’The Shiv Sena cadre is with the party and with the party president Uddhav Thackeray. They are hurt with all these developments but waiting for the elections to be declared. They will certainly teach a lesson to the rebels.’’

Shinde camp spokesman Deepak Kesarkar on Thursday said it has joined hands with BJP and formed the government in Maharashtra. ‘’If there is a call from Thackeray led Shiv Sena to return, it will have to speak to BJP in the wake of the new arrangement. Shinde camp won’t be in a position to unilaterally take any decision of going back to Thackeray camp at this point in time,''he noted

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