In a major setback to Uddhav Thackeray, ahead of the Municipal Corporation elections, 18 corporators out of 21 from Mira-Bhayandar Municipal Corporation have joined the Shiv Sena faction led by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde.
The Maharashtra CM had earlier claimed many senior leaders from the Uddhav faction are in touch with the Shinde camp to join them. This comes as a major jolt for the Thackeray camp after 60 out of the 67 Shiv Sena corporators in the 131-seat Thane Municipal Corporation jumped ship to the Shinde camp; a day later, 40 out of the 53 Shiv Sena corporators and 10 former corporators from MNS and BJP from the Kalyan Dombivali Corporation also moved to the Shinde faction.
On Sena corporators joining hands with his camp, Eknath Shinde stressed to mediaperson, “I don’t know yet. But many people, I won’t say thousands, which include office-bearers, workers and public representatives are in touch with us. People have faith in the state government because of our position on Balasaheb’s ideology and the BJP-Shiv Sena alliance. The Deputy CM has handled the affairs of the state successfully as the CM for 5 years. Many people are in touch with us because they have faith that the state government will ensure the all-round development of the state and give justice to the common man.”
Raju Bhoir and Vikram Pratap Singh were seen on the forefront at the CM press meet while shifting their loyalities to other faction of Shiv Sena group.
Meeting held at Leela Hotel
According to information received, the event was held at Leela Hotel in Mumbai under the leadership of MLA Pratap Sarnaik. MLA Sarnaik has played a major role in strengthening and expanding the Shiv Sena party organization in Mira Bhayandar city in the last 13 years. 18 existing Shiv Sena corporators in Mira Bhayander Municipal Corporation, many prominent office bearers of Shiv Sena also met Chief Minister Eknath Shinde.
The newly appointed Shiv Sena executives of Mira Bhayandar city were also seen in the delegation. Many prominent office bearers-Shiv Sainiks along with MLA Pratap Sarnaik have felicitated Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and supported the Shinde faction. On July 12, 20 out of 24 councillors from Shiv Sena in the Ambernath Municipal Corporation decided to side with the Shinde-led Shiv Sena camp. On July 9, 25 out of 38 ex-corporators from Navi Mumbai left the Uddhav camp to join the Shinde-led group.
