30 December,2025 12:32 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
Pic/Eknath Shinde`s Office
Former Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) corporator Snehal Jadhav and her husband, former corporator Sudhir Jadhav, on Monday formally joined the Shiv Sena along with hundreds of their supporters. The induction took place at the Mumbai residence of Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, Nandanvan in south Mumbai, in his presence.
Welcoming the Jadhav couple into the party, Shinde lauded their social and political work, saying leaders with strong grassroots connect were strengthening the Shiv Sena. "Leadership that works for the people at the grassroots level is joining the Shiv Sena. Their experience will certainly benefit the party," he said, extending his best wishes for their future political journey.
Addressing the gathering, Snehal Jadhav said her decision to join the Shiv Sena was guided by the party's commitment to the common people, its development-oriented policies and her confidence in its leadership. "The Shiv Sena will provide a stronger platform to work more effectively on people's issues," she said.
Sudhir Jadhav expressed his resolve to actively contribute to strengthening the party organisation. Shiv Sena spokesperson Sheetal Mhatre was also present at the event.
Meanwhile, Ruling allies BJP and Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena will contest 137 and 90 seats, respectively, in the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation polls.
A seat-sharing pact was revealed by Mumbai BJP president Amit Satam on Monday, following hectic parleys a day before the deadline for filing nomination papers closes on December 30.
Both parties will allocate some seats from their respective quotas to alliance partners, Satam added.
Candidates of both parties will file their nomination papers on Tuesday.
Another constituent of Mahayuti, the NCP, headed by Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, is contesting the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation polls separately.
The NCP has so far announced 64 candidates for the BMC polls.
Elections to 29 municipal corporations in Maharashtra, including the high-stakes Mumbai, will be held on January 15, and votes will be counted the next day.
In the BMC elections held in 2017 for 227 seats, the BJP made giant strides in the Shiv Sena citadel of Mumbai, winning 82 seats, just two seats behind the estranged ally Shiv Sena (undivided).
The Congress was relegated to the third position with 31 seats, whereas the NCP (undivided) and Raj Thackeray's MNS were reduced to 9 and 7 seats, respectively.
AIMIM had won three seats on debut, Samajwadi Party six, Akhil Bhartiya Sena one, and Independents four.
