Another blow to Uddhav, Eknath Shinde ready with a list of 400 former councilors; MPs likely to join his side

Political drama in MaharashtraMaharashtra Political DramaShiv Sena seems to be divided into two factions. One of Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray’s army and the other of Eknath Shinde. Meanwhile, the process of counter-attack is going on from both the sides. At the same time, there is another challenge for Shiv Sena in the upcoming municipal elections in the state, which is likely to be held in three to four months. After bringing in a large number of Shiv Sena MLAs, rebel leader Eknath Shinde (Eknath Shinde) has also made a list of at least 400 former councilors and some MPs. Those who are expected to go in his favor after joining the new government. Sources have given this information on Thursday. This could be another major setback for the Shiv Sena led by Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray.

According to the report of ‘The Indian Express’, the upcoming municipal elections to be held in three to four months after the monsoon will pose a challenge for the party. The terms of most of these corporations expired in March and the elections were delayed due to the coronavirus pandemic and later due to Uddhav Thackeray’s surgery and his delayed recovery.

Meanwhile, apart from Shinde’s son Shrikant (MP from Kalyan), several Lok Sabha MPs are also ready to join Shinde. Even Washim MP Bhavna Gawli (facing trouble with the Enforcement Directorate (ED)) has reportedly told Uddhav that he should go with the BJP. Sources said Shinde’s group is trying to bring with them a prominent MP from the Mumbai Metropolitan Region, who had come to attend a wedding ceremony on Thursday when the party was in trouble. It was told that the MP had reached the wedding of the child of Speaker Om Birla’s employee. During that time the MP said that he would comment later.

‘BJP was shortlisting the people of Shiv Sena’

A prominent BJP leader from Maharashtra said that we have information that 14 to 15 MPs are going to join Shinde’s group. Most of these PMs have been elected because of the charisma of Narendra Modi and they fear that they will not be elected next time. So he will come with the Shinde group. The corporators will be involved in the later phase. In Mumbai, the BJP had made all the plans to contest the elections alone and was already shortlisting the people of Shiv Sena. “Now we will have a wider choice. Apart from senior leaders in Mumbai, the responsibility of keeping the flock together has been entrusted to former Mayor Kishori Pednekar and former Leader of the House Vishakha Raut.

Former Thane Mayor Naresh Mhaske said – We do not want to be with Uddhav Thackeray

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) house has been dissolved as soon as the tenure is over. Shinde hails from Thane city and was the head of the household in Thane. Naresh Mhaske, who was the Mayor of Thane till the dissolution of the house, said, “Most of the councilors in Thane are with Shinde ‘saheb’. We are in Thane city now and will go with them. We do not want to be with Uddhav Thackeray. Most of the corporators of Ulhasnagar, Kalyan Dombivali, Bhiwandi Nizampur, Navi Mumbai, Vasai Virar, Panvel and other municipal bodies of Pune, Pimpri Chinchwad and Nashik are with Shinde ‘saheb’. People’s representatives of Palghar, Dahanu, Talasari and Thane regions are with Shinde Saheb. It’s a matter of few days.

If Sanjay Raut did not pick up the phone, MLA Yamini also joined the Shinde faction.

Shiv Sena spokesperson Manisha Kayande declined to comment on the situation and Shiv Sena spokesperson Sanjay Raut did not pick up the phone. Also one of the MLAs who joined the Eknath Shinde faction is Yamini Yashwant Jadhav. Her husband Yashwant Jadhav, the standing committee president of the dissolved BMC body, has also joined the Shinde camp. He is facing questioning from the ED.