Raj Thackeray, MNS president, had called a meeting of all corporators and party leaders this week and had warned them if they dare to change the party. He also hinted the party workers not to compel him to get in his original "Raj Thackeray" form.
A major political turmoil is expected in coming months as both Shiv Sena and Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) have started horse-trading ahead of the February 2017 civic elections.
On Saturday, two corporators from Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) and one from Congress joined the BJP in presence of Mumbai BJP chief Ashish Shelar and other senior BJP leaders. Last month, three MNS corporators and one NCP ex-corporator had joined Shiv Sena.
Raj Thackeray, MNS president, had called a meeting of all corporators and party leaders this week and had warned them if they dare to change the party. He also hinted the party workers not to compel him to get in his original "Raj Thackeray" form.
However, his warning doesn't seem to be making much difference since sources in the party said that MNS has become a vulnerable party and party workers at least six corporators are already on the way of changing parties for making their political career.
Sources said: "It is the result of unsettled feeling of party workers. They are finding a lot of disorientation among the hierarchy."
On Saturday, Prakash Darekar — MNS corporator from Dahisar and brother of Pravin Darekar who has already joined BJP after assembly election — made a formal entry in the BJP. Sukhada Pawar, MNS corporator from Ward 82 and Congress corporator Kesarben Murji Patel from ward 73 also joined the saffron party.
In 2014, just before assembly elections, Ram Kadam, MLA from MNS joined BJP and contested from Ghatkopar West on BJP ticket. Later, after the elections Pravin Darekar MNS MLA from Dahisar joined the BJP. Shiv Sena corporator Chhaya Bhanji had joined BJP immediately after 2012 civic elections.
Last month, MNS corporators Ishwar Tayade from Chandivali, Geeta Chouhan from Khira Nagar in Santa Cruz and Suresh Awale from Ghatkopar joined Shiv Sena in presence of Uddhav Thackeray. NCP ex –corporator Sharad Pawar also joined Shiv Sena recently.
It could be recalled that Raj Thackeray had conducted written test and interview rounds before choosing candidates for civic elections. Idealistic process of selecting candidates was much talked about since the MNS was the first party to attempt such a transparent process.
Close to 200 candidates hit the ground for contesting elections. And 29 corporators made to the civic headquarters. The number was promising since MNS had only 9 corporators in 2007 elections. And scaling such a sharp height was seen as party's good graph. "However, this time around the corporators have decided to choose stable political parties for their personal growth in political career," said a leader.
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