Shiv Sena leader Mr. Gajanan Kirtikar on Friday joined the Balasahebanchi Shiv Sena led by Chief Minister Mr. Eknath Shinde, which was a setback for the party’s MP, Shiv Sena Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray, and the self-appointed watchdog of Maharashtrian interests, the Sthaniya Lokadhikar Samiti Mahasangh.
Mr. Kirtikar, who had been close friends with Shiv Sena founder Balasaheb Thackeray and later with his son Mr. Uddhav Thackeray, decided to end their friendship, reportedly because he was able to secure funding from the state and the federal government through his North West Lok Sabha district for a number of unfinished projects.
13 of the total 18 MPs from the Thackeray camp have now joined the Shinde camp as a result of Mr. Kirtikar’s migration. Mr. Kirtikar’s timing is critical since the Shiv Sena UBT and the BJP-Balasahebanchi Shiv Sena will face off in the BMC elections in the coming months.
The Thackeray camp was celebrating party MP Mr. Sanjay Raut’s release from Arthur Road in connection with the suspected Patra Chawl fraud when Mr. Kirtikar’s action stunned them.
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Mr. Kirtikar’s entry is a significant boost for the Shinde camp because the Thackeray camp had so far been successful in keeping its remaining flock in Mumbai together. Most of the office holders, with the exception of a few legislators and corporate executives, have supported the Thackeray cause.
During the MP Rahul Shewale-organized celebration of Mr. Shinde, Mr. Kirtikar switched sides and joined the Shinde camp in Mr. Shinde’s presence. After joining, Mr. Kirtikar stated that he made the choice in order to adhere to Balasaheb Thackeray’s ideas. Mr. Kirtikar’s absence at the opening of the Sthaniya Lokadhikar Samiti Federation office a few days earlier sparked rumours that he had defected to the Shinde camp.
The Balasahebanchi Shiv Sena leader told the Free Press Journal, ”Gajanan Kritikar’s timing is important when there was a talk about some of the legislators who have joined Shinde camp may have a ghar vapsi soon to rejoin Thackeray camp). Instead, Kirtikar left the Shiv Sena UBT to pursue and follow Balasaheb Thackeray’s thoughts. It was also on a day when Thackeray camp leader Mr Aaditya Thackeray participated with Congress MP Mr Rahul Gandhi in the Bharat Jodo Yatra.”
He acknowledged that Mr. Kirtikar had not made a choice out of the blue, but that discussions had begun after the Chief Minister had visited him at home in July to check on him following knee surgery.
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