Seven former Congress corporators and Sena (UBT) MLA Tukaram Kate join Shinde-led Sena in Mumbai

Former Sena (UBT) MLA, seven former Congress corporators from BMC join Shiv Sena

In a significant political development in Mumbai, seven former Congress corporators of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) and former Sena (UBT) MLA Tukaram Kate have joined the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena. The move is seen as a setback for both the Congress and the Shiv Sena (UBT).

Many workers along with Kate and his wife Samruddhi Kate also joined the Shiv Sena after meeting Chief Minister Eknath Shinde at his official residence on Saturday.

"Corporators of the Shiv Sena (UBT) and Congress joined the Shiv Sena in the presence of the Chief Minister to follow the development and progress model of the party," the Eknath Shinde-led party said.

The seven Congress former BMC corporators from Mumbai, who joined the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena, include corporator Pushpa Koli, Kunal Mane, Ganga Mane, Wahid Qureshi, Bhaskar Shetty, Jyotsna Parmar and Babbu Khan.

After joining Eknath Shinde-led Sena, former MLA from Mumbai's Anushakti Nagar Tukaram Kate said. "We came to Shiv Sena to contribute to the transformation of Maharashtra and Mumbai under the leadership of Chief Minister Eknathji Shinde."

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With the joining of these seven former Congress corporators, the total number of former corporators who have joined the Eknath Shinde faction is now around 23 from across the Shiv Sena (UBT), Congress and NCP.

Ever since the Shiv Sena joined hands with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), many leaders from the Shiv Sena (UBT) joined the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena. It includes many prominent names like Neelam Gorhe, Manisha Kayande and Sheetal Mhatre.