Exodus continues from Uddhav camp; MLC and spokesperson Manisha Kayande joins Shinde’s Sena faction

MLC Manisha Kayande joined CM Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena, becoming the second MLC to defect to the ruling camp

In a setback for the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT), party spokesperson and MLC (Member of the Legislative Council) Manisha Kayande joined Chief Minister Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena, becoming the second MLC from the Thackeray group to defect to the ruling camp since Mr. Shinde’s intra-party revolt in June last year.

Ms. Kayande, who began her political career with the BJP, joined the Shinde camp in the Chief Minister’s presence late on Sunday night, hours before the Shiv Sena’s 57th ‘Foundation Day’ on Monday.   

“The majority of the Shiv Sena is with Eknath Shinde. So, I have not changed my party but merely joined the ‘real’ Shiv Sena which is preserving Balasaheb Thackeray’s ideals. This [Eknath Shinde-Devendra Fadnavis] government is completing a year. I have joined Shinde ji after witnessing the rapid pace of development in the State under his leadership,” said Ms. Kayande, speaking on Monday.

She said that while she had no intent to personally criticise anyone, she found it “hard to defend the people whom Mr. Thackeray had surrounded himself with” and remarked that the contradictory ideologies of the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) were proving untenable for her.

Ms. Kayande further claimed that she felt “stifled” in the Thackeray faction and was not allowed to speak freely on issues.

“I have supported Mr. Thackeray with my heart and soul. I am grateful for making me party spokesperson and given the post of an MLC. But after a while, I could not support his drift from the Hindutva ideology,” Ms. Kayande said.

She further claimed that Shiv Sena loyalists had never liked the MVA alliance and the Sena’s hobnobbing with the ideologically opposed Sharad Pawar-led NCP and the Congress, but that they nonetheless towed the party line for a while.