Congress spokesperson and former corporator Hemlata Patil, along with Shiv Sena-UBT's former corporator Ranjana Borade from Ward No 18, Nashik Road, officially joined Shiv Sena (Eknath Shinde faction) in New Delhi’s Maharashtra Sadan on Tuesday, in the presence of Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde.
Along with them, the former deputy mayor of Shiv Sena (UBT) in Nashik and director of Business Bank, Ranjanatai Borade, the former corporator of Shiv Sena (UBT) and Yuvasena district head Deepak Datir also joined the Shiv Sena (Shinde).
Union Minister of State Prataprao Jadhav, Deputy Speaker of Legislative Council Neelam Gorhe, MP Naresh Mhaske, MP Sandipan Bhumre, former MP Hemant Godse, Shiv Sena (Shinde) district head Ajay Boraste and other office bearers were present at the venue.
With Patil and Borade joining the Shinde faction, the group's strength in Nashik city is expected to grow further before the upcoming local body elections. Previously, several corporators had already switched allegiance to the Shinde group.
Along with them, Borade’s son, Rahul Borade, has also joined the Deputy Chief Minister’s faction.
In the recently held Assembly elections, Patil contested from Central Nashik as a Congress candidate. However, she was discontented when the seat was allotted to the Shiv Sena (UBT) under the Maha Vikas Aghadi alliance’s seat-sharing arrangements, which ultimately led to her decision to join the Shinde-led Shiv Sena.
Additionally, Borade, a former corporator of the Shiv Sena (UBT) and her son have also aligned with the Shiv Sena (Shinde). Their inclusion has further strengthened the Shinde faction's influence in the Jail Road area. Borade and her husband, the late Prakash Borade, have led this ward for the last 30 years.
Shinde is on a visit to Nashik and will hold a public rally today.
