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Former MNS leader Prakash Mahajan on Friday joined Shiv Sena, stating Eknath Shinde is Maharashtra's sole Hindutva leader, prompting his decision.
Speaking to reporters, Mahajan said, "Deputy chief minister Eknath Shinde is the only Hindutva leader in Maharashtra...because those who consider themselves heirs of Hinduism turned out to be Rashid Mama's nephews, now who should we look to? And that's why I have joined Shiv Sena." Earlier, senior politician Prakash Mahajan, who recently quit the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS), formally joined the Shiv Sena in Thane on Friday. Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde formally welcomed him, praising his dignified politics. Shinde recognised Mahajan's grassroots connections and commitment, appointing him as a Shiv Sena spokesperson to bolster the party. This development comes ahead of municipal elections to be held across 29 municipal corporations in the state, including the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC), and Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC). Earlier, ahead of the upcoming municipal corporation elections, the Shiv Sena received an overwhelming response from aspirants in Thane district, with as many as 3,348 party workers submitting applications for candidature across six civic bodies. According to Shiv Sena Member of Parliament Naresh Mhaske, 1,548 women have applied for party tickets, reflecting strong enthusiasm among women to contest local body elections under the party banner. The large turnout, including a significant number of women applicants, underscores the intense competition among the candidates. The six civic bodies include Thane, Kalyan-Dombivli, Ulhasnagar, Navi Mumbai, Bhiwandi-Nizampur and Mira-Bhayandar municipal corporations. The Thane Municipal Corporation, which has 131 corporator seats, recorded the highest number of applications, with 1,277 aspirants seeking Shiv Sena candidature. The Kalyan-Dombivli Municipal Corporation, with 112 seats, received 682 applications, while the Ulhasnagar Municipal Corporation, with 78 seats, received 385 applications. Similarly, 496 aspirants submitted applications for the 111-seat Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation. The Bhiwandi-Nizampur Municipal Corporation, with 90 seats, received 176 applications, while the Mira-Bhayandar Municipal Corporation, with 96 seats, received 332 applications. Mhaske said the response in Thane district mirrors the same enthusiasm seen in Mumbai, where over 2,700 aspirants appeared for interviews seeking Shiv Sena candidature, with women making up the largest group. Earlier, the State Election Commission in Maharashtra announced elections to 29 municipal corporations across the state, including the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) and the Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC). Polling will be held on January 15, with counting scheduled for January 16. (ANI)
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