Internal conflicts persist for Shiv Sena (UBT), facing departure of party members
Rewriting:
Discord in Shiv Sena (UBT), Mumbai:
The ongoing feud in the Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) faction (Shiv Sena UBT) seems to be escalating, as the party management seemingly ignores attempts to mend rifts within its ranks. In a recent spat, Chandrakant Khaire, former Lok Sabha MP, accused party leader Ambadas Danve of anti-party activities in the Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar district.
Khaire's accusations surfaced a day after Sanjay and Sanjana Ghadi, along with Nana Ambole and a host of grassroots Shiv Sena UBT workers, joined the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena camp. Interestingly, Sanjana left the Shiv Sena UBT only four days after being appointed as party spokesperson, blaming Uddhav Thackeray's decisions for her exit.
Khaire, who represented the Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar Lok Sabha seat for four terms from 1999 to 2019, claimed that Danve's manipulations caused his defeat in the 2024 election. "Shiv Sainiks feel Danve adjusts with opposition parties," he said. Khaire accused Danve of sabotaging decades of hard work he had put into establishing the Shiv Sena in the Marathwada region, claiming that Danve, who is junior to him, has single-handedly dismantled the party's presence.
Speaking about his grievances, Khaire pointed out that the Shiv Sena UBT lost every MLA seat in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar due to poor candidate selection, which, he suggested, was made without consulting him, despite his seniority and long-standing service to the party.
Reacting to Khaire's statements, Danve stated that Khaire, as a senior leader, is free to act as he deems fit. Danve holds a bitter history with Khaire, as he desired to contest the Lok Sabha election in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar last year but was overlooked in favor of Khaire, who eventually lost the seat to Sandipan Bhumare representing the ruling Shiv Sena.
Sanjana, in her speech during the induction ceremony, criticized the people around Uddhav Thackeray for giving him poisonous advice, resulting in poor candidate selection during the Assembly elections. Sanjana also cited her omission from the original list of spokespersons four days prior, which she speculated was due to her perceived transgressions.
An ongoing rivalry between Shiv Sena UBT and the faction led by Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde has intensified party infighting and splintered party unity at both the leadership and grassroots level. This conflict threatens Shiv Sena UBT's electoral prospects in Mumbai, as opposition parties, including the BJP, may seize opportunities to solidify their positions. Furthermore, Raj Thackeray-led Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) is keen on mobilizing protests that could exacerbate the party's division.
- The ongoing dispute within the Shiv Sena (UBT) is linked to war-and-conflicts within the party, with Chandrakant Khaire accusing Ambadas Danve of engaging in anti-party activities, which he believes contributed to Khaire's defeat in the 2024 election.
- The Shiv Sena (UBT)'s internal conflicts, fueled by feuds such as that between Chandrakant Khaire and Ambadas Danve, have resulted in severe discord and policy-and-legislation disagreements that have contributed to the party's increasing deterioration, creating opportunities for opposition parties like the BJP and Raj Thackeray-led Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) to gain more influence in general-news political scenarios.
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