Manisha Kayande joins Shinde-led Sena, second MLC from Uddhav camp to quit party

Kayande is the second MLC of Sena UBT to join the Shinde-led faction. Earlier, in February, Sena UBT MLC Viplove Bajoria had switched over.

Kayande added that she waited for a year hoping that there would be some change in the Thackeray-led Sena. However, nothing happened and hence she took the decision to switch sides.

She also criticised Uddhav, saying her feedback was not being heard and that the leader needs to introspect as to why so many people are leaving the party.

“When so many people are leaving the party, there should have been some introspection (by Thackeray). I did not like many things at the party. But still, I waited hoping that things would change. Our feedback was not being heard,” Kayande added.

Shinde himself welcomed Kayande into his party and gave her best wishes.

Earlier in the day, Sena UBT had expelled Kayande from the post of party spokesperson for allegedly indulging in anti-party activities.

The development comes a day ahead of the Shiv Sena’s (undivided) 57th Foundation Day on Monday.

Kayande, who was a teacher by profession, had started her political career with the BJP and contested the Mumbai civic election in 1997. However, she lost her maiden poll battle. In 2009, she contested the Assembly election from the Sion Koliwada constituency in Mumbai but lost that as well. Kayande joined the Shiv Sena in 2012 and was appointed as a party spokesperson in 2014. In 2017, she became an MLC.

Despite the setback ahead of the Foundation Day, Sena UBT chief spokesperson and Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Raut downplayed the defection of Kayande.

“We do not consider it as a loss or setback. The leader in question was never from the Sena. She had come from outside. Such people join a party for their selfish needs. We agree that we failed to recognise such selfish people. Such mistakes have happened in our party for many years. But this will not happen in the future. I have discussed it with Uddhavji and he has also agreed to it. Whatever we (Sena UBT) are facing for the past one year is because of such people,” Raut said.