In a dramatic political turn of events that has sent shockwaves through the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) alliance in Maharashtra, a key Shiv Sena (UBT) leader from Solapur switched sides to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) at the eleventh hour. The defection has significantly altered the electoral landscape for the upcoming Solapur Municipal Corporation elections.
A Planned Exit and a Last-Minute Switch
Ganesh Wankar, the Shiv Sena (UBT) district president for Solapur, executed a meticulously planned defection on Tuesday, the final day for filing nominations. In a move that blindsided his former party, Wankar filed his nomination papers under the BJP banner. This came after he had officially received the party's 'A' and 'B' forms from the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT) earlier that very morning.
The plot thickened as details emerged. At Wankar's own request, the Shiv Sena (UBT) had allocated the entire Ward 6 to him and his family. The party had not only given him a ticket but had also secured tickets for his brother and son. In a show of trust, party officials had even delivered the nomination forms for all four candidates directly to their residences.
Radio Silence and Viral Resignations
As Tuesday progressed, party office-bearers grew increasingly anxious. Despite repeated attempts to contact him, Wankar remained unreachable and did not appear to submit his nomination papers for Shiv Sena (UBT). The situation became clear by evening when resignation letters from Wankar, his brother Dattatray Wankar (a party coordinator), and his son Vitthal Wankar (the Yuva Sena city chief) began circulating widely on social media.
The resignations created immediate turmoil among local party workers. Later that night, the final confirmation arrived: Ganesh Wankar had formally filed his nomination as a candidate for the BJP, completing his political crossover.
Electoral Fallout for Shiv Sena (UBT) and MVA
This last-minute betrayal has severe consequences for the opposition alliance. The most immediate impact is that the MVA now has no official candidates for all four seats in Ward 6 of the Solapur Municipal Corporation. This represents a significant loss of ground in a key urban local body election.
The defection has also directly reduced Shiv Sena (UBT)'s tally of contested seats. The party had originally negotiated and secured 30 seats for the Solapur polls. With Wankar taking four family-held tickets to the BJP, and three other seats being allocated to the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS), the Uddhav Thackeray faction's count has plummeted. Shiv Sena (UBT) will now contest only 23 seats in Solapur, which includes five former corporators.
Leadership Reaction and Accusations of Betrayal
Reacting to the development, Shiv Sena (UBT) district chief Ajay Dasari expressed both suspicion and anger. He revealed that the party leadership had doubts about Wankar's loyalty. "I suspected Wankar might leave the party," Dasari stated. He drew a sharp parallel to a major past event, adding, "If the keys to this year's election were handed to him, we feared another 'Eknath Shinde' scenario in the city."
Dasari's reference to Eknath Shinde, whose rebellion split the Shiv Sena and toppled the MVA government in 2022, underscores the depth of the perceived betrayal. He concluded unequivocally, "Wankar has betrayed the party, and this is unacceptable."
This incident highlights the intense, high-stakes nature of municipal politics in Maharashtra, where last-minute defections can reshape alliances and alter electoral outcomes overnight. The BJP's gain of a prominent local leader in Solapur deals a psychological and strategic blow to the MVA ahead of the civic polls.
