Shiv Sena's Hotel Strategy: 29 Key Corporators Isolated Ahead of BMC Power Play

The Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena has taken a dramatic step in Mumbai's political arena. They have moved twenty-nine newly elected corporators to a hotel. This tactical move aims to prevent defections and consolidate numbers before crucial civic decisions.

Electoral negotiations are intensifying after the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation elections. The Shinde faction wants to secure its position. The group currently staying at the hotel presents a fascinating mix of political figures.

Who Makes Up This Crucial Group?

The twenty-nine individuals include relatives of former corporators and MLAs. Several experienced municipal representatives are present. Many leaders crossed over from the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena after the party split. Their collective numbers could determine control of India's richest civic body.

Let us examine some notable members of this isolated group.

Notable Figures Among the Twenty-Nine

Rekha Ram Yadav, Ward 1, Dahisar: A first-time Shiv Sena corporator, Yadav previously contested the 2017 BMC elections from the same ward without success. This time she secured victory from Ward 1 Dahisar Kandarpada IC Colony.
Mangesh Dattaram Pangare, Ward 4: Pangare comes from a family of dabbawalas. He won Ward 4 on the Shiv Sena ticket. After his victory, he stated that addressing long-pending issues of the dabbawala community would be a priority in the BMC.
Sanjay Shankar Ghadi, Ward 5: Ghadi is a repeat corporator who previously won Ward 5 in the 2017 BMC elections. A local leader from Ashokvan Chintamani Nagar, he joined the Shinde faction after breaking away from Sena UBT along with his wife Sanjana Ghadi.
Diksha Harshad Karkar, Ward 6: Karkar is a first-time woman corporator. She is the wife of Harshad Prakash Karkar, a former corporator and former chairman of the BMC Law Committee from 2017 to 2022. Earlier associated with Yuva Sena and the UBT faction, she shifted to the Shinde camp.
Dr Aditi Bhaskar Khursange, Ward 11: Dr Khursange is a medical professional and endodontist. She is a first-time corporator and the daughter of former corporator Bhaskar Khursange. She previously worked for two years at the BMC-run Hinduhridayasamrat Balasaheb Thackeray Polyclinic. She joined the Shinde faction after leaving Sena UBT and won a direct contest against an MNS candidate.
Sandhya Vipul Doshi Sakre, Ward 18: Doshi is a senior and repeat corporator active in civic politics since 2007. She has served as Education Committee chairperson, Ward Committee chairperson and Borivli women’s wing president. She shifted to the Shinde faction from Sena UBT ahead of the elections.
Geeta Kiran Bhandari, Ward 32: Bhandari is a former corporator from a family long associated with civic politics in Malad West.
Dhanashree Vaibhav Bharadkar, Ward 42: Bharadkar is serving her second term as corporator. She previously served as a Sena women’s office-bearer. She remains active in social work, particularly on women’s issues, and has a visible presence in political and social programmes in the Magathane Assembly constituency.
Varsha Sultu Tembavalkar, Ward 51: Tembavalkar is a first-time Shiv Sena corporator from Goregaon. She joined the Shinde faction after breaking away from Sena UBT.
Sofi Nazia Abdul Jabbar, Ward 78: Jabbar is a corporator from a minority-dominated ward. She is described as a second-term corporator who was previously with the NCP.

Political Heirs and Young Entrants

The group also includes several political heirs and young entrants making their debut in civic politics.

Ritesh Rai Kamlesh, Ward 86: At twenty-nine years old, Ritesh Rai is a first-time entrant. He is the son of former undivided Sena corporator Kamlesh Rai and is known for social work in the Marol area. He joined the Shinde faction after the Sena split and is considered close to senior leaders in the eastern suburbs.
Sagun Vasant Naik, Ward 91: Naik is a repeat corporator who has won earlier municipal elections. He is regarded as a low profile but experienced ward level leader.
Rajesh Pandharinath Sonawale, Ward 119: Sonawale is a first-time corporator and a Sena shakha pramukh from Tagore Nagar in Vikhroli. He joined the Shinde faction from Sena UBT ahead of the elections.
Suresh Gnyanu Awale, Ward 125: Awale is a second-term corporator married to Rupali Awale, herself a former corporator. The couple joined the Shinde faction from Sena UBT in February 2024.
Nirmiti Bhibhishan Kanade, Ward 133: Kanade is a first-time woman corporator and the youngest in Sena at twenty-five years old. She had been associated with local social work prior to entering electoral politics.

Experienced Leaders and Notable Crossovers

Several experienced leaders and notable crossovers from the Uddhav Thackeray camp strengthen this group.

Samruddhi Ganesh Kate, Ward 146: Kate is a second-term corporator who previously served as Ward Committee chairperson in Chembur.
Pradnya Sunil Sadafule, Ward 147: Sadafule is a first-time corporator and a software engineer by profession. She won from Ward 147 M East.
Anjali Sanjay Naik, Ward 148: Naik is a second-term woman corporator who previously served as chairperson of the BMC Education Committee. She shifted to the Shinde faction from Sena UBT after the party split.
Apeksha Gopal Khandekar, Ward 142: Khandekar is a first-time corporator from Mankhurd.
Ashwini Ashok Matekar, Ward 156: Matekar is a second-term corporator who joined the Shinde faction after leaving Sena UBT.

Key Figures with Political Connections

Many members bring significant political connections through family ties or previous positions.

Kiran Bhau Landge, Ward 160: Landge is a repeat corporator who earlier won the ward as an Independent in 2017. He later joined the Shinde faction following the Sena split.
Vijendra Viju Omkar Shinde, Ward 161: Shinde is a repeat corporator from Chandivali. He was earlier with Sena UBT and joined the Shinde faction in 2025.
Shaila Dilip Lande, Ward 163: Lande is a first-time woman corporator and the wife of Kurla MLA Dilip Mama Lande. She joined the Shinde faction after breaking away from Sena UBT.
Meenal Sanjay Tude, Ward 166: Tude is a first-time corporator and the wife of former MNS corporator Sanjay Turde. Her husband later joined the undivided Sena and subsequently the Shinde faction.
Mansi Mangesh Satamkar, Ward 175: Satamkar is a first-time corporator and the wife of former three-term corporator Mangesh Satamkar. Her husband earlier chaired the BMC Education Committee and served on the Standing Committee and other key civic panels. She joined the Shinde faction after the Sena split.

Prominent Faces and Wealthy Candidates

The group includes some of the most prominent faces in Mumbai's civic politics.

Amey Arun Ghole, Ward 178 Wadala: Ghole is a repeat corporator and among the most prominent faces in the group. He is a former Yuva Sena treasurer and was once a close aide of Aaditya Thackeray. Despite being a first-time corporator earlier, he was appointed chairperson of the BMC Health Committee in 2019. He joined the Shinde faction in 2023.
Trishna Chandrakant Vishwasrao, Ward 180: Vishwasrao is an experienced corporator who earlier won the 2012 BMC elections. She is the wife of Chandrakant Vishwasrao and has been active in civic politics for over a decade.
Bhaskar R Shetty, Ward 188: Shetty is a first-time corporator from Dharavi. He was among the wealthiest candidates, declaring assets worth Rs 25.4 crore. He won by a narrow margin of 460 votes.
Yamini Jadhav, Ward 209: Jadhav earlier lost the 2024 Assembly election from Byculla and the South Mumbai Lok Sabha election. She won the BMC polls from Ward 209. She joined the Shinde faction after breaking away from Sena UBT. She is the wife of Yashwant Jadhav, leader of the House in the BMC, who has served on several key civic committees.

The hotel isolation tactic underscores the high stakes in Mumbai's civic politics. Each of these twenty-nine corporators represents a crucial vote. Their loyalty could determine which faction controls the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation. Political observers are watching this development closely as it unfolds in India's financial capital.