Nashik: In a significant political development ahead of the upcoming municipal elections in Maharashtra, Raj Thackeray’s Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) and Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT) suffered a major setback on Thursday, with several prominent leaders from both parties defecting to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Nashik district.
Those who joined the BJP include former MNS MLA Nitin Bhosale, former Shiv Sena (UBT) mayor Vinayak Pandey, MNS’s first mayor Yatin Wagh, and Congress leaders Shahu Khaire and Sanjay Chavan.
In a notable development, MNS state general secretary Dinakar Patil—who had publicly welcomed the MNS–Shiv Sena (UBT) alliance just a day earlier—also joined the BJP. He was inducted into the party in the presence of BJP minister Girish Mahajan, along with his son and wife, Lata Patil, a former councillor.
Addressing the occasion, Mahajan said the growing support for the BJP reflected public confidence in the party’s ideology and its prospects of winning over 100 seats in the 122-member Nashik Municipal Corporation.
Internal Dissent Within BJP
However, the inductions triggered dissent within the BJP itself. Nashik Central MLA Devyani Pharande openly opposed the inclusion of Vinayak Pandey, Yatin Wagh, and Shahu Khaire into the party. Her supporters and other party workers staged protests at the BJP office.
In a strongly worded statement, Pharande said she had not been consulted on the decision despite being the party’s election in-charge. “I strongly oppose the induction of these individuals in Ward No. 13. I stand firmly with committed Hindutva workers who have fought against them. This decision was taken without consulting me,” she said, concluding her statement with “Jai Shri Ram.”
MNS–Shiv Sena (UBT) Alliance Announced
The defections come just a day after Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray and MNS president Raj Thackeray formally announced an alliance for the upcoming Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections, ending months of speculation.
At a joint press conference on Wednesday, Uddhav Thackeray said the two parties had decided to come together in the larger interest of the “Marathi manoos” and Maharashtra. Raj Thackeray echoed the sentiment, stating that the alliance was aimed at protecting regional identity and political interests in the state.
Civic Poll Schedule
Elections to the BMC and 29 municipal corporations across Maharashtra are scheduled to be held on January 15, with vote counting set for the following day. The nomination process began on December 23 and will conclude on December 30.
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