Among those who joined the BJP are Praveen Raut, deputy chief of the Shiv Sena’s Badlapur city unit, Ganesh Lamture, husband of a Shiv Sena corporator, and a large number of party workers
The development comes soon after the BJP took control of the Badlapur Municipal Council. Representative Pic/File/PTI
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 PTI.
The development comes soon after the BJP took control of the Badlapur Municipal Council and days after the Maharashtra local body elections.
Among those who joined the BJP are Praveen Raut, deputy chief of the Shiv Sena’s Badlapur city unit, Ganesh Lamture, husband of a Shiv Sena corporator, and a large number of party workers.
Praveen Raut’s wife, Sheetal Raut, and his sister-in-law, Vijaya Raut, are currently Shiv Sena corporators in the municipal council.
BJP targets dynastic politics claim
Reacting 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 Sena.
“Many workers and leaders are unhappy with how decisions are taken. They have joined the BJP to break the culture of dynastic politics in Shiv Sena,” Kathore said.
Internal discontent within Shiv Sena
The defections are being linked to growing internal factionalism within the Shinde-led Shiv Sena, particularly over the post of co-opted councillor in the Badlapur Municipal Council.
Party sources said dissatisfaction over leadership decisions at the local level had been building for some time.
Neglect forced exit: Praveen Raut
Explaining his decision, Praveen Raut said he was forced to leave due to continued neglect within the party.
“I 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 party,” he said.
Shinde signals unity as BMC mayor speculation intensifies
Meanwhile, 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 2026.
Sources said that Shinde is clear that the Shiv Sena will honour the mandate for the BJP-led Mahayuti in the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC).
Shiv Sena also remarked that the shifting of 29 corporators-elect of his party to a five-star hotel in Mumbai was being unnecessarily hyped, as reported by news agency PTI.
Earlier, after the election results, the 29 newly elected members were shifted to the hotel after the BJP-Shiv Sena alliance secured a narrow majority.
There is also a speculation that Shinde is keen to secure the city's mayor's post for his party at least for the first two-and-a-half years since it is the birth centenary year of party founder late Bal Thackeray.
BJP may not accept the demand
Sources 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 foot.
One of the close associates of the Shiv Sena (Shinde faction) said, “Shiv Sainiks wish that the party should have its own mayor since it is the birth centenary year of Balasaheb Thackeray.
Even 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 can't be seen as a leader on the back foot. At least the party can get some other important committees,” as cited by news agency PTI.
Adding to it, the source also said, “Shinde is absolutely clear that he has no plans to violate the mandate for the BJP-Shiv Sena alliance in Mumbai.”
(with PTI inputs)
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