In the aftermath of several Shiv Sena (UBT) workers switching allegiance to Shiv Sena, Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister and Shiv Sena leader Eknath Shinde asserted that the state has already identified the real Shiv Sena. He accused the Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray (UBT) faction of straying from the foundational ideology of Shiv Senas late founder, Balasaheb Thackeray.Shindes Take on the Shifting AllegiancesDuring the Vidhan Sabha elections, the state has clearly shown which Shiv Sena is authentic. This is just a trailer the full picture is yet to be revealed. We are gearing up to contest the upcoming Nagar Nigam elections with full force. The UBT faction must introspect on why their workers are leaving, Shinde stated during a press conference on Thursday.Shinde further emphasized the partys focus on development and welcomed those aligning with Shiv Sena. The people have put those who betrayed Balasaheb Thackerays ideology in their rightful place, he remarked.Prominent Switches Strengthen Shiv SenaOn December 3, Nandekumar Ghodile, a former mayor of Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar, and his wife Anita Ghodile shifted their loyalty from the Uddhav Thackeray faction to Shindes Shiv Sena. The couples decision is among several notable defections bolstering Shindes camp.Focus on Upcoming Local Body ElectionsFollowing a significant victory in the recent Assembly polls, the Mahayuti alliance, which includes Shiv Sena as a key partner, is now preparing for local body elections. Shinde stressed that the seat-sharing arrangement should reflect that of the Lok Sabha and Vidhan Sabha elections, prioritizing candidate merit and retaining sitting seats with respective parties.Shiv Sena is particularly focused on winning seats in the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) elections, aiming to secure 35-40 out of the total 162 seats. Ground-level workers have been instructed to connect with voters directly, emphasizing state and central government initiatives. The partys review process for selecting strong candidates is already underway.
