29 October,2026 04:13 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
Meenakshi Rajendra Shinde. File Pic
Meenakshi Rajendra Shinde, Maharashtra's Thane district chief of the Shiv Sena's women's wing, has submitted her resignation to Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister and Shiv Sena chief Eknath Shinde, citing allegations against her and what she described as attempts to pressure the party leadership.
In a letter dated October 29, 2026, Shinde said allegations and counter-allegations circulating on social media and in political circles had caused her considerable distress. She said people were linking her name to matters she had no connection to.
In her letter, Shinde claimed that political parties across the board had come together to level allegations against her. She expressed pain over what she described as a conspiracy to corner the party leadership, including Eknath Shinde in his capacity as the party's chief leader and guardian minister.
Shinde maintained that she had worked with complete loyalty for the party and had never acted in a manner that would bring disrepute to the organisation or its leadership.
Explaining her decision to step down, Shinde said she could not bear the thought of becoming a reason for the leadership's or the party's reputation being tarnished.
She said her resignation was not prompted by displeasure but was intended to protect the honour of the leadership and the party's image.
Shinde concluded the letter by expressing hope that Eknath Shinde would understand her sentiments and her position on the allegations.
The letter did not specify the individual allegations against her or name those she accused of attempting to pressure the party leadership.
Meanwhile, days after quitting the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT), Anand Dubey last week joined the Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde's camp, an official statement said.
The joining ceremony took place in Thane in the presence of Shinde, who is the party's chief leader, along with Shiv Sena social media state head and Yuva Sena general secretary Rahul Kanal and other office-bearers.
Several others, including Gulabchand Maurya, Sunil Chaubey, Brijesh Maurya, Dashrath Prajapati, Praveen Dubey and Dhananjay Gupta, also joined the party.
According to the statement issued by Shinde's office, welcoming Dubey, Shinde said he had seen Dubey working for the Shiv Sena over several years, including in his role as a national-level spokesperson.
Shinde said Dubey was familiar with the party's functioning and had remained in touch with Rahul Kanal. He described the Shiv Sena as a party of workers, adding that there was no owner and that everyone worked as a party worker.
He also said Dubey had adopted the principle of putting the nation first, which he described as a position associated with the late Balasaheb Thackeray and Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Shinde said the new entrants had been influenced by the work undertaken by his government. Referring to his tenure as chief minister, he said several welfare schemes had been introduced and infrastructure projects completed during his two-and-a-half years in office. He also credited Modi with supporting Maharashtra's development.
Shinde said Dubey and his team would work towards expanding the Shiv Sena's presence in Uttar Pradesh.
