MUMBAI: Days before the election code of conduct is to be announced for Lok Sabha elections, Shiv Sena (UBT) MLA from Jogeshwari Ravindra Waikar joined CM Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena on Sunday. Waikar was accused of using BMC land reserved for gardens to build a luxury hotel. He was alleged to be involved in a Rs 500 crore scam and was raided by Enforcement Directorate (ED) in January.
On Saturday, Waikar welcomed Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray at a party meeting, but 24 hours later, he jumped ship, dealing a huge blow to Thackeray.
Waikar switched sides a day after Thackeray announced the candidature of Amol Kirtikar as the Lok Sabha candidate from the Mumbai North-West parliamentary constituency, which includes Jogeshwari, currently represented by Shinde Sena MP Gajanan Kirtikar.
A few hours before Waikar reached Varsha, Shinde’s official residence, to formally join the party, Thackeray, at a party meeting in Goregaon, hit out at the MLA saying: “Some people despite being in the Sena for years did not realise the strength of the Sena. Those who want to go and sit under Minde’s [Shinde’s] beard may do so.”
Hitting out at Shinde, he said: “A pebble going here and there does not make a difference. The stigma of betrayer will never be wiped out.” Thackeray also criticised BJP, suggesting that instead of saying ‘Jai Shree Ram’, they should now say ‘Jai Aaya Ram’, indicating that the party is importing leaders from all over.
Welcoming Waikar, Shinde said he had now joined the real Shiv Sena that follows the ideology of Balasaheb Thackeray. The CM also mentioned that Waikar had come over with his entire family. MP Kirtikar was present at the event. Shinde said 45 MLAs from Sena (UBT) had changed sides. “If work had been done in the previous 2.5 years, then would he (Waikar) have come over here today?” he asked.
But Waikar said owing to the Covid pandemic, development work could not be undertaken. “…My reasons for joining Shiv Sena are different. We need Rs 173 crore for the 45km Aarey Road. The old and dilapidated PMGP colony and Sarvodaya Nagar in my constituency need to be redeveloped. I had approached courts against unequal distribution of funds…now I am convinced there is no alternative to being in power to get people’s work done,” he said.
On Saturday, Waikar welcomed Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray at a party meeting, but 24 hours later, he jumped ship, dealing a huge blow to Thackeray.
Waikar switched sides a day after Thackeray announced the candidature of Amol Kirtikar as the Lok Sabha candidate from the Mumbai North-West parliamentary constituency, which includes Jogeshwari, currently represented by Shinde Sena MP Gajanan Kirtikar.
A few hours before Waikar reached Varsha, Shinde’s official residence, to formally join the party, Thackeray, at a party meeting in Goregaon, hit out at the MLA saying: “Some people despite being in the Sena for years did not realise the strength of the Sena. Those who want to go and sit under Minde’s [Shinde’s] beard may do so.”
Hitting out at Shinde, he said: “A pebble going here and there does not make a difference. The stigma of betrayer will never be wiped out.” Thackeray also criticised BJP, suggesting that instead of saying ‘Jai Shree Ram’, they should now say ‘Jai Aaya Ram’, indicating that the party is importing leaders from all over.
Welcoming Waikar, Shinde said he had now joined the real Shiv Sena that follows the ideology of Balasaheb Thackeray. The CM also mentioned that Waikar had come over with his entire family. MP Kirtikar was present at the event. Shinde said 45 MLAs from Sena (UBT) had changed sides. “If work had been done in the previous 2.5 years, then would he (Waikar) have come over here today?” he asked.
But Waikar said owing to the Covid pandemic, development work could not be undertaken. “…My reasons for joining Shiv Sena are different. We need Rs 173 crore for the 45km Aarey Road. The old and dilapidated PMGP colony and Sarvodaya Nagar in my constituency need to be redeveloped. I had approached courts against unequal distribution of funds…now I am convinced there is no alternative to being in power to get people’s work done,” he said.