In a significant political development, Dipesh Mhatre, an influential leader from Dombivli, has left Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde’s camp to join Uddhav Thackeray’s Shiv Sena (UBT). This marks the first major defection from Shinde’s faction, and it could have substantial ramifications for the upcoming assembly elections. Mhatre, who was previously part of Shinde’s Yuva Sena, is now set to challenge Public Works Department (PWD) minister Ravindra Chavan of the BJP for the Kalyan assembly seat.
The defection signals growing internal tension within Shinde’s camp, particularly in the Kalyan-Dombivli region, which had already witnessed friction between the Shiv Sena and BJP. In recent months, there had been unrest among local BJP leaders, some of whom felt sidelined by the administration and police. A notable example of this tension was a confrontation between BJP MLA Ganpat Gaikwad and Sena leader Mahesh Gaikwad, which escalated into a shooting incident at a police station.
According to sources, Mhatre had long been eyeing a seat in the assembly elections but faced resistance from the ruling alliance due to Chavan’s strong position. With little prospect of securing a BJP ticket, Mhatre decided to align with Thackeray’s Shiv Sena, expressing his determination to work towards reclaiming the Kalyan-Dombivli region for the party. In his statement, Mhatre emphasized that despite being part of the ruling side, he and his supporters had faced legal challenges and harassment, leading to his decision to switch allegiance.
This defection is viewed as a blow to Shinde, especially as it occurs in his home district of Thane. Seven corporators from the Kalyan-Dombivli Municipal Corporation (KDMC) also joined Thackeray’s faction, further solidifying UBT’s position in the region. Uddhav Thackeray, welcoming Mhatre, took a light-hearted jab, assigning him the task of rebuilding the party’s presence in Kalyan and Dombivli, a region that has historically been a stronghold for Shinde’s family.
Thackeray also criticized those who left the party for personal gain, asserting that they would not be welcomed back. He made it clear that his faction would fight to keep Maharashtra united and accused the ruling side of attempting to divide the state for political advantage. Mhatre echoed this sentiment, vowing to strengthen the UBT in Thane and pledging that no more defections would occur from his side.
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This defection, coming ahead of the state elections, may intensify the political rivalry between the Shiv Sena factions and their BJP allies, with potential implications for the broader political landscape of Maharashtra.
