Senior Maha ex-minister Babanrao Gholap joins Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena

MUMBAI: In a fresh setback to the beleagured Uddhav Thackeray camp, weeks ahead of the Lok Sabha elections, former Maharashtra minister and Shiv Sena (UBT) deputy leader Babanrao Gholap joined the Shiv Sena led by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Saturday.

Gholap was welcomed in the party by Shinde in the presence of state minister Dada Bhuse and Deputy Chairperson of Maharashtra Legislative Council Neelam Gorhe.

Gholap, a five-time MLA from Nashik district, joining the Shinde camp may boost the party’s prospects in north Maharashtra.

Former MLA Sanjay Pawar also joined the Shinde-led Sena.

To add to the woes of the Congress, senior leader Sanjay Nirupam quit the party days earlier and is also likely to join the Eknath Shinde camp.

Another senior Congress MLA from Mumbai is slated to join the BJP-led camp consisting of the Shinde Shiv Sena and the NCP (Ajit Pawar).

(With inputs from PTI)