Former Mumbai mayor from Uddhav Thackeray faction joins Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena

Pic/Eknath Shinde`s Office

Former Mumbai mayor and Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Datta Dalvi joined the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena more than a year after he was arrested for using abusive language against him.

In 2023, Dalvi was arrested by Mumbai police for using "abusive language" against Shinde. He was later released on bail.

Dalvi, incidentally hails from Vikhroli, which is represented in the Maharashtra assembly by Sunil Raut, brother of Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut.

Apart from Dalvi, several Sena (UBT) functionaries from Mumbai, including from frontal organisations, joined the Shinde-led Shiv Sena, the development coming ahead of the crucial Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) polls.

Functionaries from Shiv Sena (UBT), Congress and NCP (SP) from Jalgaon also joined the Shiv Sena.

Shinde said 40-50 former corporators of Sena (UBT) have returned to the "original Shiv Sena". The Deputy Chief Minister said so far 70 former corporators from Mumbai have joined the Shiv Sena.

Shinde, who is also the chief leader of Shiv Sena, said the next target is to secure local bodies in the state.

After the Mahayuti government came to power, it took decisive steps to clean and revitalize Mumbai. For the first time since the British era, the streets of Mumbai were thoroughly washed, said Shiv Sena's senior leader and Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde.

Shinde criticised how some individuals had treated the BMC as their personal fiefdom. Under Mahayuti's leadership, however, stalled development projects in Mumbai have resumed, and efforts are underway to ensure Mumbaikars receive rightful housing and improved healthcare facilities.

For the past two and a half years, leaders and workers across political parties have been joining Shiv Sena. "We are committed to furthering the ideology of Balasaheb Thackeray and Dharmaveer Anand Dighe and accelerating developmental projects. We deliver on our promises - that is why lakhs of workers are joining Shiv Sena," said Shinde.

Reflecting on recent electoral performances, he noted: "When we contested 80 seats, we won 60. But at the same time, they contested 100 seats, they could win only 20. The people have made it clear who the real Shiv Sena is. Our next goal is to raise the saffron flag over all local bodies."

He criticized his opponents for refusing to introspect. "Instead of asking why their members are leaving, they call defectors garbage. But how can one person be right and millions wrong?" he asked pointedly.