Fadnavis Needed Till 2034, Says Bawankule Maharashtra Revenue Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule launched a pointed critique of Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray on Monday, accusing him of diverting attention from his party’s internal challenges to question the political future of Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. Speaking to the media in Nagpur, Bawankule defended Fadnavis, describing him as a “mature, development-oriented and versatile leader” capable of transforming Maharashtra into a developed state. The minister emphasized that the state “needs him till 2034,” framing Fadnavis as an essential figure for long-term governance. Bawankule’s remarks came in response to Thackeray’s recent allegations in Washim, where he claimed that “Operation Tiger”—a move under which six Lok Sabha MPs from his party defected to Eknath Shinde’s faction of Shiv Sena—was a covert effort to undermine Fadnavis’ leadership. The minister dismissed Thackeray’s claims as unfounded, asserting that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah had full confidence in Fadnavis’ leadership. He further accused Thackeray of abandoning Hindutva principles by aligning with the Congress party, arguing that the BJP’s strength lies in its ideological foundation rather than political power or financial incentives. Bawankule also criticized Thackeray for what he termed the “collapse” of his party, stating that Congress had effectively dismantled Shiv Sena (UBT). He claimed that the people of Maharashtra had accepted Eknath Shinde’s faction as the ideological successor to Balasaheb Thackeray’s legacy, suggesting that Thackeray’s leadership was no longer viable. Beyond political rhetoric, Bawankule outlined several policy initiatives aimed at addressing regional development and farmer welfare.#devendra_fadnavis #narendra_moddi #eknath_shinde #shiv_sena_UBT #chandrashekhar_bawankule
Nimbalkar to Decide Political Stand After Consulting Voters; Sena (UBT) Still Hopes He Stays Omprakash Raje Nimbalkar, a member of parliament from Osmanabad (Dharashiv), has announced he will determine his political future after consulting the people of his constituency. The decision comes amid ongoing tensions within the Shiv Sena (UBT), which is led by Uddhav Thackeray. The party remains hopeful that Nimbalkar, one of six dissident Lok Sabha MPs, will not leave the Uddhav Thackeray-led faction. Nimbalkar, who skipped a parliamentary party meeting in Delhi on June 17, stated he would make his decision within two days. The meeting, which was part of the Sena (UBT) parliamentary party, was attended by most members except the six dissidents, including Nimbalkar. These MPs are suspected of aligning with the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena, which has been in a power struggle with Thackeray’s faction. The Sena (UBT) issued show-cause notices to the dissidents on June 18, demanding explanations for their absence. However, none of the six MPs have responded to the notices, according to a party leader. The political rift has raised concerns about the stability of the Sena (UBT), which currently has nine Lok Sabha members. Under the anti-defection law, the party could face disqualification if the rebel bloc secures at least six MPs—two-thirds of its total strength. A party leader, speaking on condition of anonymity, noted that Nimbalkar is “on his way back (from the rebel camp)” but has not yet clarified his stance. The controversy surrounding Nimbalkar intensified after a special court acquitted his father, Pawanraje Nimbalkar, and seven others in the 2006 murder case.#uddhav_thackeray #eknath_shinde #shiv_sena_UBT #omprakash_raje_nimbalkar #pawanraje_nimbalkar
Ex-VP Dhankar Resigned Over Alleged 'Explosive' Discussions with Opposition: Sena (UBT) The Shiv Sena (UBT), led by Uddhav Thackeray, claimed on Thursday that former vice-president Jagdeep Dhankar was forced to resign from his post after the BJP-led government discovered he was engaging in "explosive" discussions with opposition leaders. The party alleged that Dhankar, who served as chairman of the Rajya Sabha, had been exchanging sensitive ideas with political parties critical of the government. The Sena (UBT) accused the administration of using health-related claims to pressure Dhankar into quitting, despite his prior good health. Dhankar resigned as vice-president on July 21, 2025, citing health reasons and medical advice. His sudden departure sparked speculation that he had been compelled to step down under government pressure. The Sena (UBT) editorial in its publication Saamana stated that Dhankar had been in good health at the time of his resignation and that he never publicly mentioned illness as a reason for quitting. The party argued that the government had learned about his private meetings with opposition figures and decided to act, fabricating a medical certificate to justify his resignation. The Sena (UBT) claimed that Dhankar had maintained a strong relationship with parties opposing the ruling BJP and that his private discussions with them were considered "explosive" by the government. According to the editorial, the administration used this information to justify his removal, framing his resignation as a health-related necessity. The party called for Dhankar to disclose the circumstances surrounding his departure, suggesting that the government's actions were politically motivated.#bjp #uddhav_thackeray #shiv_sena_UBT #jagdeep_dhankar #rajya_sabha_chairman
