Power shift in Mumbai – Bahujan Vikas Aaghadi suffers major blow as influential leader Mahesh Patil and several party members join BJP

by Webdesk
13 Aug 2025

Source: The Times Of India

VASAI: Within just a week, the Bahujan Vikas Aaghadi (BVA) faced yet another setback as a fresh group of its leaders officially joined the BJP on Tuesday at the party’s Mumbai headquarters. Unlike the earlier induction on August 5—where leaders from both the BVA and the UBT faction came on board—this time the spotlight was solely on BVA members making the switch. Among the new entrants was former Nalasopara corporator Mahesh Patil, along with the heads of the party’s slum cells and a sizeable number of senior grassroots workers.

Political analysts had already anticipated such a move from the BVA leadership, especially after the party’s dismal performance in the last assembly elections. The BVA had suffered a clean sweep loss, failing to retain any of its three seats, all of which went to the BJP. Even more damaging was the electoral defeat of the party’s most prominent father-son duo—Hitendra Thakur and Kshitij Thakur—which marked a major turning point in the region’s political landscape.

Welcoming the new members, BJP minister Ravindra Chavan highlighted that their decision to join reflects deep trust in both the Narendra Modi government at the Centre and the Mahayuti alliance government in Maharashtra. Chavan emphasized that both administrations are committed to the vision of building a Viksit Bharat (Developed India) and a Viksit Maharashtra (Developed Maharashtra).

He further reaffirmed the BJP’s dedication to the progress of the Vasai-Virar belt, stressing that Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has placed top priority on resolving the long-standing civic challenges faced by Vasai-Virar and Nalasopara. According to Chavan, the entry of grassroots leaders such as Mahesh Patil—who has firsthand understanding of public grievances—will inject fresh energy into the region’s governance and development plans. Chavan assured citizens that the area’s growth will be guided in a new direction marked by transparent and accountable administration.

The list of leaders making the switch included Slum Cell President Rajesh Thakur, Women’s Slum Cell President Savita Thakur, as well as notable figures like Ravi Patil, Rajesh Patil, Dilip Bhoir, Harsh Mhatre, and Dhaval Choraghe from Yuva Pratishthan, along with several other influential party workers.

Political observers from Vasai-Virar note that the BVA’s dominance in the last municipal elections in 2015 had been overwhelming—the party secured 109 out of 115 seats, with the Shiv Sena managing only 5 and the BJP winning a single seat. However, after the pandemic disrupted regular political activities, the municipal elections were postponed, leading to an extended period of administrator’s rule.

This prolonged gap in electoral contests, combined with the significant political realignments across Maharashtra, set the stage for the current shift. Analysts suggest that with the BJP’s growing influence and the entry of key local leaders, the political dynamics in Vasai-Virar are tilting heavily in the party’s favour. There is now widespread speculation that the BJP could secure the mayor’s post in the upcoming municipal corporation elections.

For the BVA, the recent defections mark not only a loss of numbers but also a weakening of its grassroots presence—something the party had relied on heavily to dominate Vasai-Virar’s political stage for over a decade. For the BJP, however, the new wave of inductees is seen as a strategic strengthening of its local network, potentially paving the way for electoral gains in a region once considered a BVA stronghold.

With corporation elections on the horizon, all eyes are now on Vasai-Virar, where the next few months are likely to witness intense campaigning, shifting alliances, and a decisive battle for control of the civic body.

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02 Jan 2026

BMC Elections

Power shift in Mumbai – Bahujan Vikas Aaghadi suffers major blow as influential leader Mahesh Patil and several party members join BJP

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