4 former Sena (UBT) corporators from Nashik join Eknath Shinde-led Sena
The leaders who switched sides and joined the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena include Kiran Bala Darade, Seema Gokul Nagal, Pundalik Aringle, and Punjaram Gamane.
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Several office bearers from the Nashik unit of the Shiv Sena (UBT) also joined the Shinde-led Sena. (Express Photo/Sankhadeep Banerjee/Akash Patil)In a yet another blow to the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT), four of its former corporators from Nashik district joined the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena along with their supporters on Monday. The induction took place in Mumbai in the presence of Deputy Chief Minister Shinde, who used the occasion to launch a veiled attack against Uddhav.
“We formed a people’s government in 2022 and chose to focus on development, not blame games. The public supports those who work, not those who sit idle at home,” Shinde said, addressing the gathering.
The leaders who switched sides include Kiran Bala Darade, a Yuva Sena upazilla pramukh and former municipal corporator; Seema Gokul Nagal, former chairperson of the Nashik Municipal Corporation’s Women and Child Welfare Committee; former committee chairperson Pundalik Aringle; and former corporator Punjaram Gamane. Several office bearers from the Nashik unit of the Sena (UBT) also joined the Shinde-led Sena.
Shinde said the induction would further strengthen the Shiv Sena’s base in Nashik, a region he described as emotionally aligned with the party’s traditional ‘bow and arrow’ symbol. He was flanked by minister Dada Bhuse, MP Naresh Mhaske, former MP Hemant Godse, and party functionaries including Ram Repale and Ajay Boraste.
“You had the bow and arrow during the last election, and now it’s with you again. You have returned to your rightful home,” Shinde told the new members.
Since splitting from Uddhav Thackeray in 2022, Shinde has consolidated his hold over the party’s rank and file, claiming the original Shiv Sena name and symbol after a protracted legal and political battle.
In his speech, Shinde cited the Mahayuti alliance’s recent electoral performance—232 seats won across Maharashtra—as proof of the people’s mandate. “Out of 80 seats we contested, we won 60. This shows the people’s trust in our governance and our developmental agenda,” he said.
Meanwhile, around 20 former corporators from various political parties are set to join the Ajit Pawar-led Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) on Tuesday evening in Pimpri-Chinchwad, including Ajit Gavhane, who recently contested the Maharashtra Assembly elections from Bhosari as an NCP (SP) candidate.
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