Five Former Pune Corporators Join BJP, Giving A Major Blow To Uddhav Thackeray’s Shiv Sena
Five Former Pune Corporators Join BJP, Giving A Major Blow To Uddhav Thackeray's Shiv Sena
In a significant setback for the Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT), five former corporators from Pune have joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). The move was formalized on Wednesday in Mumbai, in the presence of Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis.
The leaders—Vishal Dhanawade, Bala Oswal, Sangeeta Thosar, Pallavi Javale, and Prachi Alhat—are seasoned politicians who served multiple terms in the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC). Their defection underscores a growing dissatisfaction within the Shiv Sena (UBT) ranks in Pune.
Dhanawade, who had previously contested assembly elections from the Kasba Peth constituency, expressed his frustration with the party’s stagnation. He remarked, “Despite a strong base, there has been no effort at the state or city level to strengthen the party. We’ve been sidelined in Lok Sabha and assembly elections, and the party’s presence in Pune has dwindled.”
Bala Oswal, a senior corporator from Bibvewadi, shared similar sentiments. In a social media post, he clarified, “My decision to leave the party is final. While it may upset Shiv Sainiks, I must prioritize my political future. However, I will always value personal friendships with them.”
Oswal’s exit is particularly impactful, given his ability to retain his seat in Bibvewadi despite competition from other parties. The defection of these leaders highlights the diminishing influence of Shiv Sena (UBT) in Pune, which now lacks a single legislator or Member of Parliament in the district.
