BMC Elections 2022: A commotion is caused by Shiv Sena MP Gajanan Kirtikar's meeting with CM Eknath Shinde

Following his meeting with Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, Shiv Sena MP Gajanan Kirtikar generated rumours that he would be joining the Shinde camp. On Tuesday, Shinde visited Varsha, the CM's official house, to see Ganapati. The two allegedly then spoke about the current political climate in light of the approaching BMC elections. What happened at their meeting has not been made public by either Shinde or Kirtikar. However, officials from the Shinde camp made it clear that there was still uncertainty over this matter and did not completely rule out Kirtikar joining them soon. 

 

A representative of the Shinde camp claimed that Kirtikar's departure from the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena national executive would be a significant step. "Kirtikar's choice to defect to the Shinde camp would benefit the Shinde camp during its ongoing legal battle," he stated of his decision to leave the national leadership.

 

Twelve of the 18 MPs from Maharashtra have already sided with Shinde. Shinde recently took a car to Kirtikar's residence in north Mumbai to check on him on his recovery from surgery. Both the late Bal Thackeray, the party's supremo, and his successor Uddhav Thackeray, trusted Kirtikar as a Shiv Sena leader. He has been in charge of the Sthaniya Lokadhikar Samiti, the party's wing that works to protect Maharashtrians' job rights.

 

 

Image Courtesy: Twitter @SanjayJog7