Shiv Sena (UBT) & MNS To Hold Joint Protest On October 13 Against Thane Civic Body's Mismanagement

Thane: The Shiv Sena (UBT) and Maharashtra Navnirman Sena on Friday said they would hold a joint protest on October 13 against alleged mismanagement and corruption in Thane Municipal Corporation, the move coming amid speculation that the two parties may contest civic polls in some cities together.

TMC has been plagued by years of mismanagement, rampant corruption, and neglect of basic infrastructure, MNS leader Avinash Jadhav and Sena (UBT) leader and former Lok Sabha MP Rajan Vichare alleged at a press conference here.

Thane is the stronghold of Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, whose rebellion in 2022 led to the split in the Bal Thackeray-founded Shiv Sena.

Thane citizens are facing traffic congestion, unauthorised construction, incomplete projects and administrative apathy, Jadhav and Vichare said.

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"The TMC is in debt despite having a budget of more than Rs 3000 crore. Thane city does not have a dam to meet drinking water needs of its residents. Nothing has changed despite the presence of someone who was chief minister in the past and is now deputy CM," Vichare said in a swipe at Shinde.

"From here on, our fight will be united. We will raise the issues of people. The next election will not be fought with money power but on the basis of our work and the corruption we have exposed," Jadhav said.

Both leaders said the local units of the NCP (SP) and Congress would also take part in the October 13 agitation.

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When asked if the initiative indicated renewed unity between Uddhav Thackeray and cousin Raj Thackeray, Vichare said, "We are all on the same platform for a common issue." The cousins, who once shared cold ties, met on October 5 during the naming ceremony of Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut's grandchild in Bandra. Raj then went to Uddhav's residence, 'Matoshri', in the suburb and held discussions with him. The two leaders have publicly met for the fifth time since July 5.

Elections to various civic bodies in Maharashtra, including the cash-rich Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) and TMC, are likely to be held by the end of the year.

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