Days after polls, Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena leader and corporators’ relatives join BJP in Badlapur

In a setback to the Shiv Sena led by Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde a party leader several workers and relatives of sitting corporators from the Badlapur Municipal Council joined the BJP reported the PTIThe development comes soon after the BJP took control of the Badlapur Municipal Council and days after the Maharashtra local body electionsAmong those who joined the BJP are Praveen Raut deputy chief of the Shiv Senarsquos Badlapur city unit Ganesh Lamture husband of a Shiv Sena corporator and a large number of party workersPraveen Rautrsquos wife Sheetal Raut and his sisterinlaw Vijaya Raut are currently Shiv Sena corporators in the municipal councilBJP targets dynastic politics claimReacting to the development BJP MLA Kisan Kathore said the leaders had joined the BJP to end what he described as dynastic and arbitrary politics within the Shiv SenaldquoMany workers and leaders are unhappy with how decisions are taken They have joined the BJP to break the culture of dynastic politics in Shiv Senardquo Kathore saidInternal discontent within Shiv SenaThe defections are being linked to growing internal factionalism within the Shindeled Shiv Sena particularly over the post of coopted councillor in the Badlapur Municipal CouncilParty sources said dissatisfaction over leadership decisions at the local level had been building for some timeNeglect forced exit Praveen RautExplaining his decision Praveen Raut said he was forced to leave due to continued neglect within the partyldquoI have worked honestly for Shiv Sena for the last 25 years but local leaders treated us as secondary Senior leaders were not consulted and because of this many office bearers are now leaving the partyrdquo he saidShinde signals unity as BMC mayor speculation intensifiesMeanwhile the speculations around who will be the next Mumbai mayor have already ignited after the Mahayuti coalition clinched victory in the recently concluded BMC election 2026Sources said that Shinde is clear that the Shiv Sena will honour the mandate for the BJPled Mahayuti in the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation BMCShiv Sena also remarked that the shifting of 29 corporatorselect of his party to a fivestar hotel in Mumbai was being unnecessarily hyped as reported by news agency PTIEarlier after the election results the 29 newly elected members were shifted to the hotel after the BJPShiv Sena alliance secured a narrow majorityThere is also a speculation that Shinde is keen to secure the citys mayors post for his party at least for the first twoandahalf years since it is the birth centenary year of party founder late Bal ThackerayBJP may not accept the demandSources from Shiv Sena have also said that though Eknath Shinde is aware that his party will not get the post and he has not broached the topic with the BJP leadership he cannot be seen as going on the back footOne of the close associates of the Shiv Sena Shinde faction said ldquoShiv Sainiks wish that the party should have its own mayor since it is the birth centenary year of Balasaheb ThackerayEven though Shinde is aware that the BJP will not accept the demand for a Sena mayor there is no harm if there is a public discussion Shinde cant be seen as a leader on the back foot At least the party can get some other important committeesrdquo as cited by news agency PTIAdding to it the source also said ldquoShinde is absolutely clear that he has no plans to violate the mandate for the BJPShiv Sena alliance in Mumbairdquowith PTI inputs