Seven former councillors of the Shiv Sena (UBT) from Yavatmal in the Vidarbha region of Maharashtra have joined the ruling bloc ally Shiv Sena headed by Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, who said their induction reflects growing popularity of his party. Pics/Eknath Shinde's office
Updated On: 2025-08-01 07:24 PM IST
Compiled by : Asif Ali Sayed
The former councillors, three of them ex-chairpersons of the Ner municipality in Yavatmal, formally joined the Shiv Sena on late Thursday night in Thane in the presence of Shinde and the party's cabinet minister Sanjay Rathod
The switchover is being seen as a significant setback for the Shiv Sena (UBT), headed by former chief minister Uddhav Thackeray, an arch political rival of Shinde, in the politically sensitive Yavatmal district
A Shiv Sena release said as many as 10,000 more office-bearers and political activists from western Vidarbha are expected to soon join the party, a constituent of the ruling alliance Mahayuti, which also includes the BJP and the NCP
Among the prominent figures who joined the Shiv Sen are -- Pawan Jaiswal, Sunita Jaiswal and Vanita Misle -- all former chairpersons of the Ner municipality
Addressing the gathering, Shinde said the influx of leaders and workers into the Shiv Sena was a testament to the development work done under the Mahayuti government during his earlier tenure as Chief Minister (June 2022-November 2024)
