Sena veteran Kirtikar joins Shinde’s party, becomes 13th MP to leave Uddhav Sena

The 79-year-old Kirtikar is the 13th MP of Shiv Sena to have rebelled and joined hands with the Shinde faction, now called the Balasahebanchi Shiv Sena. Now, only six of the total 19 MPs who have been elected on the Sena ticket are still with Uddhav Thackeray.

Chief Minister Eknath Shinde said, “Shiv Sena senior leader MP Gajanan Kirtikar, who has been working for many years for the interest of Maharashtra by standing shoulder to shoulder with Balasaheb Thackeray, will strengthen Balasahebanchi Shiv Sena further. He has unconditionally joined us.”

Kirtikar said, “I am not joining with any expectations. I will work towards strengthening the party and guide the workers and leaders.”

Industries minister Uday Samant said, “The arrival of Kirtikar ji is a happy occasion for us. His guidance and advice will be important for us. Joining of such big leader shows that rebellion of CM Shinde was right.”

As soon as Kirtikar joined the Balasahebanchi Shiv Sena, Thackeray-led Sena sacked Kirtikar from the post of party leader. A statement from the Sena said he was removed by party chief Uddhav Thackeray for indulging in anti-party activities.

Sources in the Sena said Kirtikar’s son Amol would continue to be in the Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray). Amol has told Sena leaders that his father had joined the Shinde faction due to personal reasons, despite his requests not to jump ship, they added.

Kirtikar joined Balasahebanchi Shiv Sena in the presence of CM Eknath Shinde during an event organised by MP Rahul Shewale and MLA Sada Sarvankar at the Ravindra Natya Mandir in Prabhadevi.

Kirtikar is a Shiv Sena old-timer who has served as an MLA for four terms and was also a minister in the first Shiv Sena-BJP government that was elected to power in 1999.

Kirtikar was elected to the Lok Sabha in 2014 from Mumbai North West, a seat that he retained in the 2019 elections.