Defection Fears haunt Shiv Sena (UBT) As BMC Mayor Election Nears
Speculation intensified after Dr Mhaske remained absent from a crucial meeting held at Shiv Sena Bhavan in Dadar on Wednesday to elect the party’s group leader.
Mumbai: Just days before the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) mayoral election, the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT) appears to be facing a potential political setback. Newly elected corporator Dr Sarita Mhaske from Ward No. 157 is reportedly preparing to break away from the party and form a separate group of around 10 corporators within the BMC to support the BJP-led Mahayuti, sources said. If it materialises, the move could alter the balance of power in the country’s richest civic body.
Speculation intensified after Dr Mhaske remained absent from a crucial meeting held at Shiv Sena Bhavan in Dadar on Wednesday to elect the party’s group leader. The Shiv Sena (UBT)’s newly elected corporators unanimously chose former mayor Kishori Pednekar as their group leader in the BMC.
Meanwhile, senior Shiv Sena leader and Maharashtra Industry Minister Uday Samant claimed that more corporators from the Shiv Sena (UBT) could become “unreachable” in the coming days, hinting at further erosion of the party’s strength in the BMC.
Shiv Sena (UBT) leaders said they had tried to contact Dr Mhaske , but were unable to reach her. Addressing questions about her absence, party leader Anil Parab said efforts were underway to get in touch with her and dismissed speculation of discontent within the party. He said her absence could be due to personal reasons.
After electing their group leader, the Shiv Sena (UBT) corporators travelled by bus to Kokan Bhavan in Navi Mumbai for group registration, but Dr Mhaske was not present on that bus either.
Dr Mhaske won from Ward No. 157 by defeating BJP candidate Asha Tayade, the wife of Ishwar Tayade, by a margin of 1,803 votes. Commenting on what he termed the “operation of political MoUs” in Maharashtra, Mr Samant said one would have to “wait and watch” how many Shiv Sena (UBT) corporators become unreachable by the time of the mayoral election. In a sarcastic remark, he added, “We will sign political MoUs after returning to Maharashtra.”