Uddhav Thackeray faction suffers yet another jolt, as estranged kin of Thackeray camp spokesperson Andhare joins Shinde group

Move comes a day after Sushma Andhare’s estranged husband follows in footsteps of MP Gajanan Kirtikar and moves over to CM Shinde camp 

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Mumbai: The Uddhav Thackeray camp suffered yet another jolt in a span of couple of days, the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena faction on Sunday inducted Vaijnath Waghmare, the estranged husband of Sushma Andhare, the fiery spokesperson of the Shiv Sena Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray (SHSUBT) faction. 

The move comes after lawyer Vaijnath Waghmare, Sushma Andhare’s estranged husband, joined the Balasahebanchi Shiv Sena (BSS), the rival Sena faction led by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde’s faction.  

As the critical Maharashtra civic polls draw closer, the move comes a day after veteran Sena leader and Lok Sabha MP from Mumbai North West constituency Gajanan Kirtikar defected to the Shinde camp, further weakening the Thackeray faction. The CM’s faction now has the support of 40 of the 55 MLAs and 13 of the 19 factionalised Sena MPs. 

However, an unruffled Andhare, who is a noted Ambedkarite activist, lecturer, writer, said the joining of her long-separated husband to the Shinde camp made no difference to her or the Thackeray-led Sena faction. 

Refusing to be drawn any further into the controversy, Sushma Andhare remarked, “These are just political tactics. Every person has the freedom to make his or her decision. We have been separated for the last four-five years and I am not aware of his (Vaijnath Waghmare’s) political intentions. Even then, I will give my best wishes for his career. It is his independent decision. After all, it is always tempting to enter the party that is in power as one perceives opportunities.”

Pointing to the political nature of such moves, the SHSUBT spokesperson argued that Shinde faction MP Bhavana Gawli’s estranged husband Prasad Surve had joined Uddhav Thackeray’s camp. “Likewise, while Gajanan Kirtikar may have joined the Eknath Shinde group, his son Amol Kirtikar is still with us. So, these things are personal decisions,” added Andhare.

Meanwhile, Vaijnath Waghmare said he would not mind if the Shinde camp propped him up as a candidate against his estranged wife in future polls.

Noted for her hard-hitting speeches laced with wit and sarcasm, Andhare has given added impetus to the embattled Thackeray faction while emerging as a formidable adversary for the Shinde camp’s leadership, who have retaliated by lodging cases against her in annoyance.  

 Meanwhile, Thackeray camp loyalist Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Raut, recently released on bail, was seen today with Gajanan Kirtikar’s son, Amol. 

Raut remarked, “While it is sad that Gajanan Kirtikar has left us despite the party giving him everything, his son Amol has professed his loyalty towards Thackeray…it is youthful leaders like him who will now carry the party forward and are its future.” 

Kirtikar’s defection to CM Eknath Shinde’s camp was long speculated soon after he became CM following his revolt in June, Shinde had visited Kirtikar who was then recovering from a surgery at the latter’s home in Goregaon East.  

Gajanan Kirtikar who was nominally with the Thackeray camp, had visited Shinde’s official residence during the Ganesha festivities,sparking buzz of him leaving the Thackeray camp.  

According to observers, the senior Kirtikar’s presence is expected to greatly benefit the Shinde faction in its ongoing legal battle with the Thackeray camp as well as strengthen the former’s hand in the ensuing Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) polls.