shot-button
Maharashtra Elections 2024 Maharashtra Elections 2024
Home > Mumbai > Mumbai News > Article > Maharashtra elections 2024 Tug of war in two Senas as factions draw defectors

Maharashtra elections 2024: Tug-of-war in two Senas as factions draw defectors

Updated on: 11 November,2024 08:09 AM IST  |  Mumbai
Sameer Surve | sameer.surve@mid-day.com

UBT’s Lok Sabha candidate from Palghar joins Shinde camp; two shakha pramukhs in Worli join UBT

Maharashtra elections 2024: Tug-of-war in two Senas as factions draw defectors

Rupesh Mhatre with CM Eknath Shinde; (right) Bharti Kamdi with CM Eknath Shinde

Listen to this article
Maharashtra elections 2024: Tug-of-war in two Senas as factions draw defectors
x
00:00

Both factions of the Shiv Sena are engaged in a sort of competition to bring each other’s party workers into their respective camps. Each faction is attempting to weaken the other by attracting party workers to join their side. In the last three days, workers from Shinde’s Shiv Sena faction in Worli have joined the UBT faction, while UBT’s Palghar Lok Sabha candidate Bharti Kamdi has switched over to Shinde’s Shiv Sena.


Kamdi had secured 4 lakh votes in the Lok Sabha election. The same day, two shakha pramukhs from Shiv Sena in Worli, along with their party workers, joined UBT. Shiv Sena leader Aditya Thackeray, who contested from the Worli constituency, now faces Shiv Sena MP Milind Deora and Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) candidate Sandeep Deshpande.


“I was not interested in contesting the Lok Sabha election. But as the party asked me to contest, I followed the order. I was willing to contest the Assembly election from the Palghar constituency, but the party gave the ticket to another person. Even party leaders don’t have the courtesy to talk to me, and they didn’t include me in the campaign. So, I decided to quit the party,” said Bharti Kamdi.


Former two-time MLA of Bhiwandi, Rupesh Mhatre, joined the Shinde-led Shiv Sena. Initially, Mhatre sided with UBT after the split in the Shiv Sena. However, grew upset because the Bhiwandi East seat was given to the Samajwadi Party in the seat distribution of Maha Vikas Aghadi, from where sitting MLA Rais Sheikh is contesting.

UBT subsequently removed him from the party, and on Saturday, he joined the Shinde led Sena in the presence of Chief Minister Eknath Shinde.

“The person leaving the party can make a difference if they have a strong hold on the electorate. However, 80 per cent of voters decide a month in advance who they’ll vote for. Such party shifts mainly help create perceptions about the opposing political party,” said political observer Abhay Deshpande.

Political observer Santosh Pradhan said, “These events primarily shape perception, with limited impact on voters. The influence also depends on the person’s connection with the electorate.”

"Exciting news! Mid-day is now on WhatsApp Channels Subscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest news!" Click here!

Register for FREE
to continue reading !

This is not a paywall.
However, your registration helps us understand your preferences better and enables us to provide insightful and credible journalism for all our readers.

Mid-Day Web Stories

Mid-Day Web Stories

This website uses cookie or similar technologies, to enhance your browsing experience and provide personalised recommendations. By continuing to use our website, you agree to our Privacy Policy and Cookie Policy. OK