A notable political shift was witnessed in Ulhasnagar after five former corporators of the Bharatiya Janata Party were inducted into the Shiv Sena faction led by Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde. The development was marked by the formal inclusion of Jamnu Puraswani, Prakash Makhija, Mahesh Sukhramani, Kishore Vanwari and Meena Sonde into the Shinde-led Sena during a ceremony that was attended by the Deputy Chief Minister.
The move was described as an outcome of growing unrest within the Ulhasnagar unit of the BJP. It was indicated by those close to the matter that dissatisfaction had been steadily rising with the leadership approach of state BJP president Ravindra Chavan. His functioning was characterised by the dissidents as arbitrary, with allegations that long-serving workers were not being given due recognition. It was suggested that a widening gap had developed between the state leadership and the grassroots cadre, contributing to mounting frustration.
Particular emphasis was placed on the concerns raised by Jamnu Puraswani, who was identified as one of the most experienced leaders among the group. It was stated that he had repeatedly attempted to draw attention to long-standing issues, but no action was reportedly taken. His political journey since 1984 and his years of service in the civic body were highlighted as part of the dissatisfaction felt when grievances were left unaddressed.
Further concern was expressed regarding the ₹30-crore development fund allocated to the MLA in 2023, which was said to have remained unutilised. This lapse was attributed by the corporators to decisions made under Chavan’s leadership. It was reported that this non-utilisation led to stalled developmental projects, resulting in disappointment among citizens and party workers alike.
It was conveyed that other political options had been considered by the corporators; however, the decision to join the Shiv Sena was ultimately taken to remain within the larger Hindutva and NDA framework. Political observers noted that this alignment had been perceived by the group as ideologically consistent and strategically sound.
Additionally, the leaders stated that they had been advocating for a BJP–Shiv Sena alliance ahead of the upcoming municipal elections. This view was said to have been supported by many within the local unit. However, resistance to such an alliance from Chavan, along with the growing prominence of newcomers within the BJP, was cited as a key reason for their eventual departure.
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