Shiv Sena ‘leaks’ on as ex-Thane Mayor, 67 leaders join Shinde Group

Mumbai: The ‘leaks’ in the Shiv Sena continued unabated as ex-Thane Mayor Naresh Muske along with 67 former municipal corporators joined Chief Minister Eknath Shinde’s group, here on Thursday.
The move has come as a jolt to the former Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray, ahead of the upcoming civic elections in Thane where the party has ruled for many years.
Muske and others met Shinde — who was also the Guardian Minister of Thane in the erstwhile Maha Vikas Aghadi regime — at his residence and pledged to work together under his leadership for the progress of the city adjoining Mumbai.
Also Read Eknath Shinde backstabbed me: Uddhav Thackeray Earlier, several leaders from Thane had issued veiled threats that if they are denied tickets for civic polls they would “follow Eknath Shinde’s path”.
The latest development came a week after Shinde was sworn-in as the Chief Minister and Bharatiya Janata Party’s Devendra Fadnavis took oath as Deputy CM after the MVA government collapsed on June 29.
Besides, there are indications that many Sena elected law-makers, party leaders and office-bearers at various levels are likely to shift allegiance to the Shinde Group in the coming weeks.