Post-Midnight Defection in Akola Jolts Uddhav Sena, Tilts Civic Power Toward Shinde Camp

Akola: Shiv Sena (Uddhav faction) suffered a major setback in the Akola Municipal Corporation after four of its six corporators defected to the Shinde-Sena in a post-midnight operation. The crossover, executed around 2am on Wednesday at the Thane residence of deputy chief minister Eknath Shinde, involved Manoj Patil, Sagar Bharuka, Surekha Kale and Sonali Sarode. The move was compounded by the defection of district chief Mangesh Kale, further weakening the Thackeray faction's local base. All four corporators were elected on Sena (UBT) tickets in the recent civic polls and their exit reduces the faction's tally in the 80-member house to just two, eroding its leverage in municipal decision-making.The political impact is heightened by the defection of Surekha Kale, who recently contested as the mayoral candidate of Maha Vikas Aghadi with support from the Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi against the BJP-led front.The January civic polls produced a fractured mandate. BJP emerged as the single largest party with 38 seats, falling short of the majority mark of 41, while Congress secured 21. Sena (UBT) with six seats, positioned itself as a potential kingmaker. That position has now been undermined. With the defections, the ruling alliance's strength, including nominated members, has climbed to 53, consolidating its control over the civic body. Earlier, BJP retained control with cross-party support, electing Sharda Khedkar as mayor and Amol Ghoge as deputy mayor after defeating rival candidates backed by opposition parties.Manoj Patil, who also heads the Prahar outfit at the city level, contested from Ward No. 5 in alliance with Sena (UBT), underscoring shifting loyalties within local political alignments. Explaining their decision, the defecting corporators said, "We have taken this step for the development of the city and our respective wards."The timing and venue of the defection indicate a coordinated strategy to consolidate influence within urban local bodies. Political observers say the development could trigger further realignments in Akola and reflects a broader pattern of shifting allegiance in Maharashtra's municipal politics following the 2024 assembly elections.