Kumar Bahukhandi
BJP flag – Photo: ANI
The BJP has suffered a major setback ahead of the Maharashtra civic elections. Six former party councillors in Ulhasnagar have joined the Shinde faction’s Shiv Sena and Team Omi Kalani (TOK). These include three of the BJP’s most influential figures in the city. This split, just ahead of the upcoming local elections, is being considered a major political blow to the BJP.
The BJP has suffered a major setback ahead of the local body elections in Maharashtra. Six former BJP corporators from Ulhasnagar left the party on Friday Novemver 14 , 2025 and joined the Shinde faction of Shiv Sena and its local ally, Team Omi Kalani (TOK). Three of these leaders were considered among the BJP’s strongest faces in the city. While the BJP-backed NDA alliance has retained power in Bihar with a landslide majority, the departure of six leaders ahead of the Maharashtra civic elections is being seen as set back for the BJP.
This split is being considered a major loss for the BJP ahead of the upcoming municipal elections in the Ulhasnagar and Kalyan Lok Sabha constituencies. At the same time, this incident could strengthen the Kalani family’s hold, which had weakened two months ago when five former councillors joined the BJP.
Two joined the BJP, four joined the TOK.
According to media reports, Kishore Vanwari and Meena Sonde are among those from the Shinde faction who joined the Shiv Sena, while Jamnu Purswani, Prakash Makhija, Mahesh Sukhramani, and Charlie Parwani joined the TOK. These leaders were welcomed by MP Shrikant Shinde and TOK chief Omi Kalani. Purswani is a five-time corporator and former deputy mayor, Makhija is a four-time standing committee chairman, and Sukhramani has served as a minister of state at the Maharashtra Sahitya Akademi.
Prakash Makhija’s Dissatisfaction
Prakash Makhija clarified his stance on leaving the party. He said that senior BJP and Shiv Sena leaders were working against each other, which is why he decided to leave. However, sources believe that if the party’s top leadership does not intervene in time, this tension could spread to other areas.
Why is the conflict between the BJP and the Shinde faction of the Shiv Sena occurring before the civic elections in Maharashtra?
It is worth mentioning that news of a rift between the BJP and the Shinde faction of the Shiv Sena is making headlines ahead of the civic elections in Maharashtra. Sources indicate that tensions between the Mahayuti allies, the BJP and Shiv Sena, in the Ulhasnagar and Kalyan Lok Sabha constituencies escalated this year when Ravindra Chavan became the state BJP president. He attempted to strengthen his organisation in the Kalyan Lok Sabha constituency, considered a stronghold of the Shinde family. This led to several Shiv Sena leaders joining the BJP. In response, MP Shrikant Shinde began inducting BJP leaders into his camp.
