Pune, July 19 (UNI) In yet another jolt to Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena faction, a group of 13 MPs, including Srirang Barne of Pune Maval, on Tuesday joined the group led by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, who formed the government with the support of BJP, after rebelling against the party leadership.
A group photo of 13 MPs with CM Shinde was released today in Delhi, suggesting that Barne has joined the Shinde faction today.
However, Vinayak Raut, Arvind Sawant, Rajan Vichre, Gajanan Kirtikar, Bandu Jadhav, Omraje Nimbalkar are six MPs, who are still loyal to Matoshree.
After Eknath Shinde formed the government with BJP along with 39 MLAs from Shiv Sena, a large number of MLAs have crossed over to the Shinde camp.
Similarly, 12 MPs of Shiv Sena have appointed Rahul Shewale as the group leader in place of Vinayak Raut. A letter in this regard has also been given to the Lok Sabha Speaker.
When Shewale got the support of Maval MP Srirang Barne, it became clear that he has joined the Shinde group today.
Barne represents the Maval constituency, comprising Pimpri-Chinchwad, Maval, Panvel, Uran and Khalapur areas, in the Lok Sabha. He has been elected twice consecutively from Maval.
His son, Vishwajit Barne, is the head of Pimpri-Chinchwad city Yuva Sena, while his nephew is a corporator in Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation.
Former MLA of Pimpri Gautam Chabuxwar, former corporator of Akurdi Pramod Kute, former corporator of Wakad area Rekha Darshile, women activist Urmila Kalbhor, former city chief Yogesh Babar are Barne's supporters. That's why Barne having joined the Shinde group is considered a big blow for Uddhav's Shiv Sena.
Meanwhile, in Pimpri-Chinchwad city, Shiv Sena has suffered a major blow as two current and former MPs have joined the Shinde group. Former MP from Shirur Shivajirao Adhavarao Patil has also joined the Shinde group. He had represented Bhosari in Shirur Lok Sabha constituency for 10 years.
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