Struggling to maintain its presence in city politics, the Shiv Sena (UBT) suffered a setback with five former party corporators set to join the BJP this week. Two of them announced their decision to leave the Sena UBT on Wednesday.
The Sena UBT had 10 corporators elected to the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) in the previous five-year term for which elections were held in 2017. The term expired in 2022. The civic elections have been delayed due to legal issues and are likely to be held in 2025.
Of the 10 former corporators, Pramod Bhangire had joined the Shiv Sena led by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde after the split in the party while the remaining former corporators stayed with Uddhav Thackeray during the Lok Sabha and Assembly elections.
A few days ago, five former corporators Bala Oswal, Vishal Dhanwade, Sangeeta Thosar, Pallavi Jawale and Prachi Alhat met Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis.
“I have made my decision and I’m firm on it. I will work for the people of the city,” said Oswal while declaring his decision to quit the Sena UBT and join the BJP on January 5.
Dhanwade too reached out to his supporters to declare his decision to leave the Sena UBT and join the BJP. “I have made a decision in the New Year to join the BJP. It was painful to take the decision to leave the Sena UBT,” he said.
“I had never thought even in my dreams to quit the Sena UBT. I am pained by leaving the party which I loved and worked to strengthen. The party gave me love and recognition as a politician but there are many reasons for leaving it. I have respect for the party, Uddhav Thackeray and Aaditya Thackeray. I don’t have any grievances against them but the party is directionless in Pune, which is very disturbing.”
Former Sena UBT corporator Avinash Salve had quit the party and joined the Congress ahead of the Assembly elections. Former legislator Mahadeo Babar too quit the Sena UBT after being denied ticket to contest the Assembly elections. But, former city MNS chief Vasant More had joined the Sena UBT ahead of the Assembly elections.
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