Blow to Thackeray camp as hundreds of Shiv Sainiks from Aaditya’s Worli constituency join Shinde faction

Shiv Sena cadre, from the fisherfolk community of Worli Koliwada, reportedly disgruntled with Uddhav and Aaditya Thackeray over Mumbai coastal road project

In a blow to the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena camp ahead of the October 5 Dasara rally, hundreds of activists and office bearers from the fisherfolk community of Worli Koliwada area joined the rival Sena faction led by Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde.

The setback is particularly notable given that Mr. Thackeray’s son, former Environment Minister Aaditya Thackeray is the MLA of Worli constituency where fisherfolk constitute a significant section of the electorate.

Also read | Ahead of Dasara rally, rival Shiv Sena factions face-off with verbal duels, ‘teaser wars’

According to sources, more than 500 Sena activists from Worli Koliwada switched allegiance to the Shinde camp as they were reportedly upset about Aaditya Thackeray and Uddhav Thackeray “not being responsive enough” to their problems regarding the Mumbai Coastal Road project when the senior Thackeray was Maharashtra Chief Minister heading the erstwhile ‘Maha Vikas Aghadi’ (MVA) government.

They also presented a garland in the form of a ‘bow and arrow’ (Shiv Sena’s symbol) to the Chief Minister, hinting that Mr. Shinde and his faction was the ‘legitimate’ Shiv Sena for them and not the one led by the Thackeray clan.

Besides the activists from Worli, hundreds of other activists from other parties like the Nationalist Congress Party and the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena, office bearers and members of different outfits including several teacher organisations, made a beeline outside Mr. Shinde’s official residence ‘Varsha’ on Sunday to express their support for the Chief Minister.

“I welcome all those who have expressed support for our government. Many people from Worli Koliwada, too, have declared their support for us. This is because they feel that our government [BJP-Shinde-led Sena faction] can truly give them justice as a ‘common man’s government’ has been established,” Mr. Shinde said.