Eknath Shinde: Candidacy U-Turn! Shinde's New Strategy to Corner Thackeray Brothers

Eknath Shinde: Against the backdrop of the Mumbai Municipal Corporation elections, the Shiv Sena (Shinde faction) is facing difficulties in Ward No. 192 in Dadar. The decision on candidacy has increased discontent among party workers, and discussions of resignations have begun. Currently, preparations for municipal elections are in full swing across the state. Developments are taking place in all parties regarding the structure of wards and the selection of candidates. The same picture is seen in Mumbai. After MNS announced Yashwant Killedar as a candidate in Dadar's Ward 192, political movements have accelerated.

Against this backdrop, former divisional head of the Thackeray group, Prakash Patankar, along with his wife Preeti Patankar, joined the Shinde group. Immediately after joining, Preeti Patankar was given a candidacy. However, this decision has upset the old and active workers in the party.

Kunal Wadekar was considered the main contender from this ward. He is a supporter of former MLA Sada Sarvankar and has been working for the party for many years. However, the opportunity given to an outsider candidate has made Wadekar and local officials uneasy. The dissatisfaction has increased as Deputy Division Head Niket Patil and Branch Head Abhijit Rane also did not receive tickets.

All of these have expressed their displeasure to the senior leaders. “If those who work on the ground are being sidelined and newcomers are being given opportunities, how are we supposed to work?” they have questioned. As a result, there is talk that many office bearers in Ward 192 are preparing to resign collectively. Due to these developments, the Shinde group is facing a major challenge of internal discontent in this ward in Dadar.

In Brief

• Shinde faction in trouble in Ward No. 192 in Dadar against the backdrop of Mumbai municipal elections
• Intense dissatisfaction among workers in Shiv Sena (Shinde faction) due to the candidacy decision
• Discussions of resignations started by disgruntled officials and workers
• Vigorous preparations for municipal elections across the state; movements gaining momentum in all parties
• Political equations seem to be changing over ward structure and candidate selection
• Internal factionalism flared up in Mumbai against the backdrop of municipal elections