In a significant blow to the Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray), seven former councillors from Yavatmal’s Ner municipality, including three ex-chairpersons, have defected to the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena, a key partner in Maharashtra’s ruling Mahayuti alliance. The high-profile switch occurred late Thursday night in Thane, in the presence of Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and Shiv Sena minister Sanjay Rathod, underscoring the growing clout of Shinde’s faction in the politically crucial Vidarbha region.

The defectors, including prominent figures Pawan Jaiswal, Sunita Jaiswal, and Vanita Misle, were joined by hundreds of political workers and office-bearers from various parties, signaling a broader shift in allegiance. A Shiv Sena statement claimed that an additional 10,000 activists from western Vidarbha, primarily from Congress, Shiv Sena (UBT), and local outfits, are poised to join Shinde’s party soon, further consolidating its regional dominance.

Addressing the gathering, Shinde attributed the influx to the Mahayuti government’s development achievements during his tenure as Chief Minister (June 2022–November 2024). “Our work for farmers, women, and senior citizens has earned us a historic mandate in the 2024 assembly polls,” he said, referring to Mahayuti’s sweeping victory, securing 230 of 288 seats. Shinde highlighted the Ladki Bahin Yojana, a women-centric welfare scheme, as a game-changer that resonated with voters, contrasting it with the Maha Vikas Aghadi’s (MVA) failure to capture public support.

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The defection is a setback for Uddhav Thackeray’s Shiv Sena (UBT), which has struggled to maintain its grassroots base since the 2022 party split, when Shinde’s rebellion led to the collapse of the MVA government. The Election Commission’s 2023 decision to recognize Shinde’s faction as the official Shiv Sena, granting it the party name and “bow and arrow” symbol, further weakened Uddhav’s faction, which now uses the “flaming torch” symbol. In the 2024 assembly elections, Shinde’s Shiv Sena won 57 seats with a 12.38% vote share, outperforming Uddhav’s faction, which secured only 20 seats with a 9.96% vote share.

Shinde emphasized his party’s commitment to its promises, stating, “People across Maharashtra, especially Vidarbha, trust our leadership because we deliver.” He expressed gratitude to the Yavatmal activists for traveling to Thane, his stronghold, to join his faction. Minister Rathod announced a forthcoming induction event in Yavatmal, anticipating a massive turnout of 10,000 new members, signaling further erosion of MVA’s influence in the region.

The defections highlight the ongoing “Sena vs. Sena” battle, with Shinde’s faction leveraging its legislative strength and alliance with the BJP and NCP to attract grassroots leaders. As Maharashtra’s political landscape continues to shift, these moves could reshape power dynamics in Vidarbha ahead of future elections.

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