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Frowning at Congress’ ‘leakage’, Shiv Sena whacked by a ‘political cloudburst’!

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4 years ago

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Uddhav-Thackeray

Exactly a month ago (May 21), the Shiv Sena had expressed serious concerns over the badly “leaking” Congress with so many leaders deserting the party, and how the youth of India would lose confidence in the grand old party.

A month later, the Sena has been knocked down and practically washed out, by an unexpected “political cloudburst” that hit the saffron party last Monday (June 20-21) night, with a series of nightmarish developments in quick succession.

The Sena was rudely shaken, when it became clear by early Tuesday morning that a major storm in the form of a “MLAs’ revolt” was raging and threatened to uproot the 30-month-old Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government of Sena-Nationalist Congress Party-Congress.

Ironically, on May 21, the Sena was distressed over the desertion by leaders like Sunil Jakhar and Hardik Patel in quick succession, preceded by Jyotiraditya Scindia and Jitin Prasada.

“The Congress’ condition is like a cloudburst. The problem is where to put the patch and seal it. The leaks started on the concluding day of the party’s recent Chintan Shivir in Rajasthan,” the sagely Sena had said.

Perhaps unknown to the Sena, it was around that time the group of rebels led by senior party leader and Minister Eknath Shinde were busy hatching their own little political deluge – with a flood of outgoing MLAs – that now threatens to sink the MVA.

Sena’s anxiety for its ally came on a day when the Congress observed the death anniversary of the late ex-Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi (May 21), and ironically, the “Hindutva” party’s own countdown to a probable diminution started on the Summer Solstice Day (June 21).

There is seething rage and helplessness at various levels in the Sena, how it failed to catch the signals of a rebellion brewing up right under its noses, why it could not plug the “leaks” in time after they were belatedly detected and finally culminated into a flash flood within barely 48 hours.

There are reports that the State Intelligence Department (SID) and other agencies had sounded out drab warnings around March-April on the developments, but the MVA failed to take them seriously or react.

Some Congress and NCP senior leaders were visibly irked over how such a large chunk of MLAs could “disappear” into the dark night of June 20-21 at a single shot, undetected and unsuspected, and by the time the grim reality dawned on them the next morning, it was already “too late”.

A Congress leader pointed out that the most shocking aspect was the “Sena MLAs’ quietly slipping off”, taking advantage of the fracas witnessed during the MLCs polls results on Monday and the boisterous celebrations that followed.

One leader said that it has now surfaced how the MLAs sneaked out citing bland reasons like “going to the loo,” “getting a headache”, “not well”, “upset tummy” etc, and vanished from the “party scene” altogether.

A Congress leader even questioned how the MLAs’ police escorts got no whiff of the murky goings-on, why they did not alert the police control or other authorities especially while crossing the district or state borders, and perhaps helped nip the rebellion in the bud.

The current status is the Sena is left with around 18 MLAs, the rebel group is claiming the support of around 40-plus MLAs, enough for a vertical split and joining any potential new dispensation that may materialise.

Barely 48 hours after the shock revolt, the Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray quietly vacated his official residence and shifted to his private home, amid speculation that he would rather quit – to save the party from a split and the government from a downfall.

Watching the party and government slipping out of the hands like sand, the Sena, along with NCP-Congress are making all-out efforts to salvage the situation or prepare to sit in the Opposition – a classic scenario of hoping for the best and preparing for the worst!

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Crime

Mumbai Crime: Oshiwara Police Arrest Habitual Thief, Recover Stolen Valuables Worth ₹1.26 Crore

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3 hours ago

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January 7, 2026

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Mumbai: The Oshiwara Police have arrested a habitual offender involved in a major housebreaking case and successfully recovered stolen property worth ₹1,26,10,450.

According to police officials, between 11:00 pm on December 29, 2025, and 7:30 am on December 30, 2025, an unidentified person gained entry through the bathroom window of a bungalow (No. 15, Magnum Tower, Bank Road, 2nd Cross Road, Lokhandwala, Andheri West). The accused broke into the complainant’s cupboard and stole a safe containing gold, diamond and silver ornaments along with cash altogether valued at approximately ₹1,37,20,000.

Based on the complaint, Oshiwara Police registered an FIR  on December 30, 2025, under sections 331(4) and 305(A) of BNS. Following the registration of the case, the Senior Police Inspector, Crime Detection Officer and the police team visited the crime scene and conducted a detailed inspection.

Even without knowing the suspect’s residence, officers skillfully gathered intelligence. Sub-Inspector Vikas Kadam and his team laid a trap in the locality where the accused was suspected to be hiding and kept watch for two days. The suspect finally appeared, and on January 3, 2026, the team detained him for interrogation.

During questioning, the accused confessed that he had kept the stolen valuables at his residence and some with a jeweller. Acting promptly, the police recovered stolen diamond, gold and silver ornaments valued at ₹1,26,10,450.

Further investigation revealed that the arrested accused has a criminal history with 14 previous cases registered against him. Police officials also stated that more cases from Oshiwara Police Station and other police jurisdictions are likely to be detected during further interrogation.

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Maharashtra

BJP and Congress Form Unlikely Alliance to Keep Shiv Sena Out of Power in Ambernath Council

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4 hours ago

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January 7, 2026

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Thane: In a surprising political development at the municipal level, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Indian National Congress have come together to form a governing alliance in the Ambernath Municipal Council, effectively preventing the Shiv Sena from taking control despite its strong performance in the elections.

The Shiv Sena emerged as the single largest party in the recently concluded Ambernath civic polls but failed to secure a clear majority in the council. Taking advantage of the fractured mandate, the BJP stitched together a post-poll alliance with the Congress and other smaller parties to cross the majority mark and form the ruling body.

The new coalition, formed under a development-focused banner, has claimed that its primary objective is to ensure stability, efficient administration, and accelerated civic development in Ambernath. Leaders from the alliance stated that local governance requires practical decision-making beyond traditional political rivalries.

As part of the power-sharing arrangement, the BJP secured the key leadership position in the municipal council, while coalition partners were accommodated in the governing structure. The move has reshaped the political equations in the region and drawn sharp reactions from the Shiv Sena, which accused its rivals of engaging in opportunistic politics.

Shiv Sena leaders expressed disappointment over the alliance, terming it a contradiction of ideological positions and a setback to the mandate of voters. They maintained that the party would play a strong role as the opposition and continue to raise civic issues.

Political observers note that such unexpected alliances are becoming increasingly common in urban local body elections, where numbers and local priorities often outweigh long-standing political alignments. The Ambernath development is being closely watched as it may influence future municipal strategies across Maharashtra.

The formation of this alliance highlights the evolving nature of grassroots politics and underscores how local power dynamics can diverge sharply from state-level and national political narratives.

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Maharashtra

BMC Elections 2026: Shiv Sena Split Turns Mumbai-South Central Into High-Stakes Battleground

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5 hours ago

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January 7, 2026

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Mumbai, Jan 06: Mumbai South-Central, which includes predominantly Marathi-speaking areas such as Worli, Dadar–Mahim and Parel–Lalbaug, has traditionally been a strong bastion of Shiv Sena (UBT). However, the split within the party has altered the political landscape ahead of the 2026 BMC elections.

In areas like Lalbaug–Parel and Dadar–Mahim, the contest has now become a direct fight between the Shiv Sena (UBT)–MNS alliance and the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena.

Meanwhile, in Worli, long-time loyalists are contesting as independent candidates, posing a challenge for the party’s official nominee by potentially splitting votes. Overall, the elections in these areas are expected to witness tough and closely fought contests between rival Sena factions and rebel candidates.

Once dominant in Dadar and Mahim, Shiv Sena (UBT) and Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) face a high-stakes battle in the BMC elections, as Uddhav Thackeray and MNS chief Raj Thackeray aim to consolidate Marathi voters through their alliance, while the Shinde-led Shiv Sena mounts a strong challenge.

To retain its stronghold, UBT has fielded three former mayors, while the Shinde faction has nominated family members of former UBT leader Sada Sarvankar, who joined the Shinde faction in 2022. This raises the possibility of a split in the Marathi vote, making the outcome uncertain.

Milind Vaidya — Shiv Sena (UBT), former mayor
Rajan Parkar — BJP

Vishakha Raut — Shiv Sena (UBT), former mayor
Priya Sarvankar — Shiv Sena (Shinde), daughter of former MLA Sada Sarvankar

Vandana Gawli — Shiv Sena (Shinde), former corporator from Akhil Bhartiya Sena (ABS)
Aboli Khadye — Shiv Sena (UBT), wife of local shakha pramukh

Kishori Pednekar — Shiv Sena (UBT), former mayor
Rupali Kusale — Shiv Sena (Shinde)

The Sewri–Lalbaug–Parel belt, a mix of traditional working-class neighbourhoods and rapidly developing commercial hubs, has long been a stronghold of the Shiv Sena. Dominated by Shiv Sena (UBT), the area has witnessed growing competition following the party split.

With the Shinde-led Sena actively contesting these wards, the belt has become a key battleground in the upcoming BMC elections. Voter loyalty, especially among Marathi-speaking residents, is expected to play a decisive role.

Shradha Jadhav — Shiv Sena (UBT), former mayor and six-time corporator
Parth Navkar — BJP
Vijay Indulkar — Independent, former UBT shakha pramukh who rebelled after being denied a ticket

Anil Kokil — Shiv Sena (Shinde), former UBT corporator
Kiran Tadve — Shiv Sena (UBT)

Sachin Padwal — Shiv Sena (UBT), former corporator
Nana Ambole — Shiv Sena (Shinde), former corporator and ex-BJP member

Worli, another stronghold of Shiv Sena (UBT) represented by Aaditya Thackeray as MLA, has witnessed internal dissent after the party nominated family members of former UBT corporators.

This has caused unrest among shakha pramukhs — key grassroots leaders crucial for party unity and outreach. In all four wards, rebel candidates have filed nominations, raising the likelihood of vote splits and making it difficult for UBT to retain its bastion.

Hemangi Worlikar — Shiv Sena (UBT), former deputy mayor
Pralhad Worlikar — Shiv Sena (Shinde)
Suryakant Koli — Independent, UBT shakha pramukh who rebelled after being denied a ticket

Nishikant Shinde — Shiv Sena (UBT), brother of MLC Sunil Shinde
Samadhan Sarvankar — Shiv Sena (Shinde), former corporator and son of former MLA Sada Sarvankar
Sonal Pawar — Independent, local party functionary who rebelled against UBT candidate

Padmaja Chemburkar — Shiv Sena (UBT), wife of former corporator Ashish Chemburkar
Sonali Sawant — BJP
Sangeeta Jagtap — Independent, UBT functionary who rebelled against the candidature

Vanita Narvankar — Shiv Sena (Shinde), wife of former UBT corporator Datta Narvankar
Rachna Salvi — MNS
Shravani Desai — Independent, wife of former corporator Parshuram (Chotu) Desai, rebel candidate after seat was allotted to MNS as part of the alliance.

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