Big blow to Uddhav Thackeray as 66 Shiv Sena corporators from Thane join CM Eknath Shinde camp

Shiv Sena is currently divided in two camps with one being led by Uddhav Thackeray and the other one by Eknath Shinde, who recently revolted against his former boss and formed the government with the BJP. So far, Shinde has support of 40 of 55 Sena MLAs. When revolt began, Shinde had the support of 39, and later one more leader from the Uddhav group dejected him and join the rebel camp.

TN National Desk

Updated Jul 7, 2022, 14:04 IST

Shiv Sena corporators from Thane joined Chief Minister Eknath Shinde camp on Thursday

Mumbai: In a major setback to Uddhav Thackeray, 66 Shiv Sena corporators from Thane joined Chief Minister Eknath Shinde camp on Thursday. Sena is currently divided in two camps with one being led by Uddhav Thackeray and the other one by Eknath Shinde, who recently revolted against his former boss and formed the government with the BJP.

When Shinde broke away with Sena, it was expected that he would be made Deputy CM. However, the BJP suprised many by allowing Shinde to takeover as CM. While the developments troubled some BJP leaders, the analysts called it a smart move by the saffron party to further strenghthen the Shinde camp and eat into whatever is left in Sena headed by Uddhav.

Today's development shows that that strategy might be proving to be effective. However, it needs to be underlined that Thane is a stronghold of Shinde, so corporators coming with him may not be that surprising.

So far, Shinde has support of 40 of 55 Sena MLAs. When revolt began, Shinde had the support of 39, and later one more leader from the Uddhav group dejected him and join the rebel camp.

Today, a former Sena MP also left the party. Former MP from Amravati, Anandrao Vithoba Adsul today resigned as a leader of Sena in a jolt to Uddhav Thackeray. Sena currently has 18 MPs in Lok Sabha but two of them have also sided with Shinde.

Speaking on Adsul's resignation from the party, Sena MP Sanjay Raut said he was under pressure from the ED. "Anand Rao has given his resignation, I have learnt that ED was going on against him, there was a raid at his residence...due to this pressure may be...such pressure is on many leaders," Raut was quoted as saying by ANI.

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