Shinde dissolves Shiv Sena units in both corporations over poor poll performance

PUNE: Taking cognizance of the intense infighting, which resulted in dismal performance in the recent municipal corporation elections, Shiv Sena chief Eknath Shinde has dissolved the party's executive committees in both Pune and Pimpri Chinchwad.The decision comes after the party failed to win a single seat in the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) and managed only six seats in the Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC). Senior party members attributed the poor showing to a lack of coordination and internal friction, which hampered the campaign after seat-sharing talks with the BJP fell through and the party decided to contest the polls alone.In a bid to overhaul the local leadership, Shinde has cancelled all appointments of office-bearers in the two cities, sparing only the city unit chiefs. Cabinet minister and senior leader Uday Samant has been tasked with reviving the party's presence in the region.Samant visited Pune on Friday to hold meetings with local units and formally announce the dissolution of the committees."As per the party chief's directions, we have cancelled all appointments in Pune and Pimpri Chinchwad, with the exception of the city unit heads," Samant said. "Over the next 30 days, senior party leaders will visit every ward in the PMC and PCMC to identify new, dedicated office-bearers capable of expanding our base. A full review of the party's progress will be conducted after this 30-day period."Despite the aggressive restructuring, Samant clarified that the expansion drive does not necessarily signal a "go-it-alone" strategy for future elections. While the party is focused on strengthening its grassroots presence, he noted that the move is aimed at internal health rather than breaking current alliances.