Dipesh Mhatre’s Defection to Uddhav Thackeray’s Shiv Sena (UBT) Marks Major Setback for Eknath Shinde Ahead of Maharashtra Assembly Elections
In a significant political development in Maharashtra, Dipesh Mhatre, an influential young leader from Dombivli, joined the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT) on Sunday. Mhatre’s defection from the Eknath Shinde camp marks a major setback for the Maharashtra Chief Minister, especially as the state gears up for assembly elections expected to take place in mid-November. Mhatre, who has long been associated with Yuva Sena, is now expected to contest the upcoming elections, where he will likely face BJP’s Public Works Department (PWD) Minister, Ravindra Chavan, in a fiercely contested battle.
Dombivli, a suburban area in the Kalyan constituency, has become a politically charged zone in recent months. The region holds particular significance for Shinde, as his son, Shrikant Shinde, had recently won the Kalyan parliamentary seat in the general elections. Mhatre’s move to join the Uddhav faction represents the first major revolt within Shinde’s home district since his split from Uddhav Thackeray’s Shiv Sena in June 2022. The defection adds another layer of tension to the brewing rivalry between Shinde and the Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT), which has escalated over the last year.
Mhatre was not alone in his defection. Along with him, seven corporators from the Kalyan Dombivli Municipal Corporation (KDMC) also switched allegiances to the Thackeray faction. This exodus of local leaders has the potential to reshape the political landscape in Kalyan and Dombivli, where tensions between the BJP and Shinde’s Shiv Sena have been simmering for more than a year. The shift also complicates the dynamics of the BJP-Shiv Sena alliance, particularly with local BJP leaders having earlier expressed their desire to gain control over the Kalyan parliamentary seat, a demand that created friction within the alliance.
Mhatre’s decision to join the Thackeray faction appears to be rooted in personal political ambitions. For some time, Mhatre had expressed his interest in contesting the upcoming assembly elections. However, with Ravindra Chavan, a sitting MLA and minister in the Maharashtra government, viewed as the preferred candidate within the BJP-Shiv Sena alliance, Mhatre felt sidelined. Frustrated with what he saw as limited opportunities within the alliance, he chose to join forces with Uddhav Thackeray, aiming to carve out his own path in the political arena.
)
Upon joining Shiv Sena (UBT), Mhatre made a public declaration of loyalty to Uddhav Thackeray, stating, “This is the first time in some time that someone from Thane district is joining Matoshri. I promise you (Uddhav Thackeray) that I will go to any extent to grow the party in the Thane district. I promise you that not a single worker will shift loyalty now.” His commitment to bolstering the Thackeray faction in Thane district, which includes Dombivli, will likely make him a key figure in the region’s political developments leading up to the elections.
Mhatre’s defection also highlights a growing dissatisfaction among certain local leaders within the BJP-Shiv Sena alliance. The Kalyan and Dombivli regions have been at the center of intra-alliance power struggles, with local BJP leaders pushing for greater control over the Kalyan parliamentary seat. The BJP’s insistence on retaining its stronghold in the region has caused rifts with Shinde’s faction, which also has vested interests in maintaining dominance in the area.
In a related development, the BJP faced another blow on Sunday when its former minister, Harshvardhan Patil, joined the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), aligning himself with the Sharad Pawar faction. Patil’s decision to jump ship came just days after he resigned from the BJP, reportedly over concerns about not receiving a ticket in the upcoming assembly polls. Like Mhatre, Patil’s move reflects a broader trend of dissatisfaction among political figures who feel marginalized within their parties ahead of the crucial elections.
The defection of influential leaders such as Mhatre and Patil points to a larger realignment of political loyalties in Maharashtra ahead of the state elections. As political factions maneuver for control, both the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT) and Sharad Pawar’s NCP appear to be gaining momentum by attracting disillusioned leaders from rival camps. These defections could prove significant in the upcoming elections, potentially reshaping the political map of Maharashtra.
)
For Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, Mhatre’s defection represents a challenge to his leadership, particularly in his home district of Thane. Since splitting from Uddhav Thackeray’s Shiv Sena last year, Shinde has worked to establish his own faction as a dominant force in Maharashtra politics, particularly through his alliance with the BJP. However, the departure of key local leaders like Mhatre suggests that not all is well within Shinde’s camp, especially at the grassroots level.
As Maharashtra heads toward assembly elections, the political landscape remains fluid. The battle lines are being drawn, with the Uddhav Thackeray faction positioning itself as a formidable opposition to both Shinde’s Sena and the BJP. The addition of leaders like Dipesh Mhatre and the corporators from KDMC strengthens Thackeray’s position in Thane district, an area that could prove crucial in the electoral battle.
With tensions rising and defections signaling growing discontent, the stage is set for a fiercely contested election in Maharashtra. The outcome could significantly impact the future of the state’s politics, particularly the ongoing rivalry between the BJP-Shiv Sena alliance and the Uddhav Thackeray-led faction. Mhatre’s defection, along with other recent political shifts, highlights the unpredictability of the current political climate, where loyalty and ambition continue to shape the course of events.