As the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) polls are a year away, the Shiv Sena has already swung into action and can be seen targeted the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
According to reports, in the past two weeks, around half a dozen leaders from the BJP have switched sides to the Sena, which is likely to dent the saffron party’s prospects in several pockets of Mumbai.
On Monday, February 8, Anil Kadam, a staunch supporter of BJP MLA Kalidas Kolambakar, and former corporator Presila Kadam joined the Shiv Sena. Shiv Sena supremo and Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray tied Shivbandhan to both of them.
सायन कोळीवाड्यातील माजी नगरसेवक प्रीसिल्ला कदम जी आणि अनिल कदम जी यांनी आज शिवसेना पक्षप्रमुख, मुख्यमंत्री उद्धव बाळासाहेब ठाकरे यांच्या हस्ते शिवबंधन बांधून शिवसेनेत जाहीर प्रवेश केला. pic.twitter.com/0Kr9Lg3a7X
— ShivSena - शिवसेना (@ShivSena) February 8, 2021
On February 5, former Congress MLA-turned-BJP leader Krushna Hegde joined the Sena along with Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) leader Juilee Shende. Hegde, son-in-law of former Sena MLA and ex-mayor Ramesh Prabhoo, is a prominent face to join the party.
Moreover, the next day, three-time winner from the Borivali Assembly constituency and former BJP MLA Hemendra Mehta joined the Sena in the presence of Thackeray.
Kadam’s exit is considered a big blow for MLA Kolambakar and the party. Besides, BJP-affiliated BEST union’s working president Vivek Gholap also shifted to the Sena.
Kalidas Kolambakar, the current MLA in the BJP, was earlier in the Shiv Sena. After Narayan Rane left Shiv Sena, he joined Congress with him. He was twice elected MLA on a Congress ticket. He then joined the BJP and became an MLA.
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