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Who are the 29 Sena corporators camped in a hotel and why are they so important

The group includes political heirs, defectors from the Uddhav Thackeray camp and seasoned civic leaders whose numbers could determine control of the richest civic body

Eknath shindeShiv Sena shifts 29 newly elected corporators to hotel to prevent defections ahead of key civic decisions. (Express File Photo: Sankhadeep Banerjee)

AS ELECTORAL negotiations intensify after the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation elections, the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena has moved its 29 newly elected corporators to a hotel, a tactic aimed at preventing defections and consolidating numbers ahead of crucial decisions.

The group currently contains a mix of people dominated by relatives of former corporators and MLAs, experienced municipal representatives and leaders who crossed over from the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena after the party split.

WHO ARE THESE 29

1. Rekha Ram Yadav, Ward 1, Dahisar
A first-time Shiv Sena corporator, Rekha Ram Yadav had unsuccessfully contested the 2017 BMC elections from the same ward. In this poll, she secured a victory from Ward 1 Dahisar Kandarpada IC Colony.

2. Mangesh Dattaram Pangare, Ward 4
A first-time corporator from a family of dabbawalas, Pangare won Ward 4 on the Shiv Sena ticket. After his victory, he said addressing long-pending issues of the dabbawala community would be among his priorities in the BMC.

3. Sanjay Shankar Ghadi, Ward 5
A repeat corporator, Ghadi had earlier won Ward 5 in the 2017 BMC elections. A local leader from the Ashokvan Chintamani Nagar area, he joined the Shinde faction after breaking away from Sena UBT along with his wife Sanjana Ghadi.

4. Diksha Harshad Karkar, Ward 6
A first-time woman corporator, Diksha Karkar is the wife of Harshad Prakash Karkar, a former corporator and former chairman of the BMC Law Committee from 2017 to 2022. Earlier associated with Yuva Sena and the UBT faction, she shifted to the Shinde camp.

5. Dr Aditi Bhaskar Khursange, Ward 11
A medical professional and endodontist, Dr Khursange is a first-time corporator and the daughter of former corporator Bhaskar Khursange. She previously worked for two years at the BMC-run Hinduhridayasamrat Balasaheb Thackeray Polyclinic. She joined the Shinde faction after leaving Sena UBT and won a direct contest against an MNS candidate.

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6. Sandhya Vipul Doshi Sakre, Ward 18
A senior and repeat corporator, Doshi has been active in civic politics since 2007. She has served as Education Committee chairperson, Ward Committee chairperson and Borivli women’s wing president. She shifted to the Shinde faction from Sena UBT ahead of the elections.

7. Geeta Kiran Bhandari, Ward 32
A former corporator, Bhandari belongs to a family long associated with civic politics in Malad West.

8. Dhanashree Vaibhav Bharadkar, Ward 42
A second term corporator, Bharadkar has earlier served as a Sena women’s office-bearer. She remains active in social work, particularly on women’s issues, and has a visible presence in political and social programmes in the Magathane Assembly constituency.

9. Varsha Sultu Tembavalkar, Ward 51
A first-time Shiv Sena corporator from Goregaon, Tembavalkar joined the Shinde faction after breaking away from Sena UBT.

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10. Sofi Nazia Abdul Jabbar, Ward 78
A corporator from a minority-dominated ward, Sofi Nazia Abdul Jabbar is described as a second-term corporator. She was previously with the NCP.

11. Ritesh Rai Kamlesh, Ward 86
Ritesh Rai aged 29 is a first-time entrant. He is the son of former undivided Sena corporator Kamlesh Rai and is known for social work in the Marol area. He joined the Shinde faction after the Sena split and is considered close to senior leaders in the eastern suburbs.

12. Sagun Vasant Naik, Ward 91
A repeat corporator, Naik has won earlier municipal elections. He is regarded as a low profile but experienced ward level leader.

13. Rajesh Pandharinath Sonawale, Ward 119
A first-time corporator, Sonawale is a Sena shakha pramukh from Tagore Nagar in Vikhroli. He joined the Shinde faction from Sena UBT ahead of the elections.

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14. Suresh Gnyanu Awale, Ward 125
A second-term corporator, Awale is married to Rupali Awale, herself a former corporator. The couple joined the Shinde faction from Sena UBT in February 2024.

15. Nirmiti Bhibhishan Kanade, Ward 133
A first-time woman corporator and the youngest in Sena, 25-year-old Kanade had been associated with local social work prior to entering electoral politics.

16. Samruddhi Ganesh Kate, Ward 146
A second-term corporator, Kate has earlier served as Ward Committee chairperson in Chembur.

17. Pradnya Sunil Sadafule, Ward 147
A first-time corporator, Sadafule is a software engineer by profession and won from Ward 147 M East.

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18. Anjali Sanjay Naik, Ward 148
A second-term woman corporator, Naik had earlier served as chairperson of the BMC Education Committee. She shifted to the Shinde faction from Sena UBT after the party split.

19. Apeksha Gopal Khandekar, Ward 142
She is a first-time corporator from Mankhurd, Khandekar.

20. Ashwini Ashok Matekar, Ward 156
A second-term corporator, Matekar joined the Shinde faction after leaving Sena UBT.

21. Kiran Bhau Landge, Ward 160
A repeat corporator, Landge had earlier won the ward as an Independent in 2017. He later joined the Shinde faction following the Sena split.

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22. Vijendra Viju Omkar Shinde, Ward 161
A repeat corporator from Chandivali, Shinde was earlier with Sena UBT and joined the Shinde faction in 2025.

23. Shaila Dilip Lande, Ward 163
A first-time woman corporator, Shaila Lande is the wife of Kurla MLA Dilip Mama Lande. She joined the Shinde faction after breaking away from Sena UBT.

24. Meenal Sanjay Tude, Ward 166
A first-time corporator, Tude is the wife of former MNS corporator Sanjay Turde, who later joined the undivided Sena and subsequently the Shinde faction.

25. Mansi Mangesh Satamkar, Ward 175
A first-time corporator, Satamkar is the wife of former three-term corporator Mangesh Satamkar, who earlier chaired the BMC Education Committee and served on the Standing Committee and other key civic panels. She joined the Shinde faction after the Sena split.

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26. Amey Arun Ghole, Ward 178 Wadala
A repeat corporator and among the most prominent faces in the group, Ghole is a former Yuva Sena treasurer and was once a close aide of Aaditya Thackeray. Despite being a first-time corporator earlier, he was appointed chairperson of the BMC Health Committee in 2019. He joined the Shinde faction in 2023.

27 Trishna Chandrakant Vishwasrao, Ward 180
An experienced corporator, Vishwasrao had earlier won the 2012 BMC elections. She is the wife of Chandrakant Vishwasrao and has been active in civic politics for over a decade.

28 Bhaskar R Shetty, Ward 188
A first-time corporator from Dharavi, Shetty was among the wealthiest candidates, declaring assets worth Rs 25.4 crore. He won by a narrow margin of 460 votes.

29. Yamini Jadhav, Ward 209
Yamini Jadhav, who had earlier lost the 2024 Assembly election from Byculla and the South Mumbai Lok Sabha election, won the BMC polls from Ward 209. She joined the Shinde faction after breaking away from Sena UBT. She is the wife of Yashwant Jadhav, leader of the House in the BMC, who has served on several key civic committees.

Vallabh Ozarkar is a Senior Correspondent with The Indian Express' Mumbai bureau, recognized as an authoritative and deeply knowledgeable voice on the politics, governance, and infrastructure of Maharashtra. With more than nine years of experience in major news organizations, his reporting delivers high standards of Expertise and Trustworthiness. Expertise & Authority Current Role: Senior Correspondent, The Indian Express, Mumbai bureau. Geographical Specialization: Provides exclusive and detailed coverage of Maharashtra politics and governance, operating at the epicenter of the state's decision-making in Mumbai. Core Authority: His reporting demonstrates deep Expertise across critical and often complex state matters, including: Political Dynamics: In-depth analysis of the ruling coalition (Mahayuti) and opposition (MVA), internal party conflicts, and crucial election updates, including local body polls and municipal corporation tussles. Governance & Policy: Focused coverage on significant state policies, such as the overhaul of Mumbai's 'pagdi system' (rent control for old buildings) and social welfare schemes (e.g., Ladki Bahin Yojana accountability). Infrastructure & Development: Reports on major urban and regional infrastructure projects, including the Mumbai Water Metro, Uttan-Virar Sea Link, and Thane Metro development. Administrative Oversight: Follows legislative actions, cabinet decisions, and reports on issues of accountability and alleged fraud within state departments. Experience Current Role: His role at The Indian Express—a leading national daily—validates the credibility and standard of his reporting. Career Foundation: Prior to The Indian Express, Vallabh contributed to other major metropolitan news outlets, including the Mumbai Mirror and DNA - Daily News & Analysis, providing a solid foundation in rigorous urban and political journalism. Evidence of Impact: His work consistently breaks down complex political developments and administrative failures, such as exposing discrepancies in government welfare schemes, cementing his reputation as a trusted source for ground-level, impactful news from Maharashtra. He tweets @Ozarkarvallabh ... Read More

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