Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar: A wave of resignations has swept through the Shiv Sena (UBT) in Parbhani following the party's decision to replace district chief Gangaprasad Anerao with Vishnu Murkute. Anerao is considered a close aide of MP Sanjay Jadhav, and the move has intensified speculation over Jadhav's possible exit from the Uddhav Thackeray-led party.
Resignations Pour In After Organisational Reshuffle
Following the organisational reshuffle, several office-bearers loyal to Jadhav began submitting their resignations to the party leadership from Tuesday afternoon onward. The process continued even on Wednesday, with sources indicating that close to 100 office bearers have sent in their resignations. However, some local functionaries have opposed the mass resignation move, exposing internal divisions within the district unit.
Among those who have resigned are Yuva Sena district chief Deepak Barhate, women's district organiser Mangal Kathale, Dalit Aghadi district organiser Sanjay Sarnikar, deputy district chiefs Ranjit Gajmal and Dashrath Bhosale, and sabhapati Pandharinath Ghule, along with several workers. A close aide of MP Jadhav confirmed, "Close to 100 office bearers have sent their resignations to the party chief."
Political Churn Amid Defection Speculation
The political churn comes amid continuing speculation over Parbhani MP Sanjay alias Bandu Jadhav switching sides. The party's move to remove Anerao and appoint Murkute is being seen as a clear signal from the leadership as uncertainty over Jadhav's political future deepens. Party insiders claimed that Jadhav personally contacted several key office-bearers and urged them to tender their resignations, though there was no official confirmation.
Speculation over Jadhav's defection has been rife for weeks. At a recent local event, the MP made an ambiguous statement that added fuel to the buzz. He said, "I am with you today, but cannot say about tomorrow," at a public event on Saturday, leaving his future political course open to interpretation. He balanced his remarks by stating, "Those who made me what I am will never be betrayed, but times have changed. Even voters now demand money. Workers are asking how long we should remain in the opposition. I have not left the party yet, and it is too early to say what lies ahead."
No Denial of Defection Rumours
Notably, Jadhav has so far not issued any categorical denial of the defection rumours. His absence from a recent meeting of Parbhani office-bearers and elected representatives convened by the party leadership in Mumbai further strengthened speculation. The latest resignations have brought local factionalism within Sena (UBT) in Parbhani into the open.
Political observers said the developments indicate that the party leadership may now be shifting control of the district unit towards MLA Dr Rahul Patil, apparently in anticipation of Jadhav's possible exit. The situation remains fluid, with more resignations expected in the coming days.
