Thane: Amid the Ulhasnagar Municipal Corporation election, the Shiv Sena delivered a major political blow to the BJP during a massive rally addressed by deputy chief minister Eknath Shinde. Three-time corporator Prakash Nathani quit the BJP and joined the Shiv Sena at the rally. Several BJP office-bearers also switched sides, strengthening the Shiv Sena ahead of the polls.Shiv Sena is contesting all 78 seats in Ulhasnagar in alliance with its local partners Team Omie Kalani (TOK) and the Sai Party, while the BJP, its alliance partner in the state govt, is contesting all seats independently. In contrast, Shiv Sena and BJP are contesting together as part of the Mahayuti in Kalyan–Dombivli.Addressing the gathering, Shinde launched a sharp attack on the Thackeray brothers without naming them, saying, “When people played their band, they remembered their brand.” He accused the opposition of hypocrisy over EVMs, stating that EVMs are termed good when they win and faulty when they lose. He said the public has now seen through such tactics.Referring to Kalyan–Dombivli, Shinde pointed out that 21 Mahayuti candidates have been elected unopposed and asked the opposition why they failed to even field candidates. He said people withdraw nominations not out of fear, but because they know they lack leadership and public support.Calling Kalyan–Dombivli a Mahayuti stronghold, Shinde praised MP Shrikant Shinde, calling him a visionary leader and credited him for transforming the region through mega development projects. He asserted that Mahayuti will form the municipal government and hoist the saffron flag in Kalyan–Dombivli.In Ulhasnagar, Shinde emphasized unity between the Marathi and Sindhi communities, comparing their bond to sugar dissolved in milk. Sharing the stage with former MLA Pappu Kalani, Omie Kalani and SAI party president Jeevan Idnani, he praised Pappu Kalani’s leadership, saying, “A name needs strength; even kites fly on air, but leadership needs substance.”Recalling his tenure as chief minister, Shinde said he worked tirelessly and launched schemes like the ‘Laadki Bahin Yojana’ to empower women, assuring that the scheme would never be discontinued.Concluding his speech, Shinde said his dream is to transform Ulhasnagar into a “happy city” driven by development, unity and trust, expressing confidence that the coming civic elections would see the bow-and-arrow and lotus symbols prominently victorious.
