Shaina NC joins Shiv Sena after BJP nomination from Shinde’s faction

On Monday, BJP leader Shaina NC appeared on the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena’s candidate list for Mumbai’s Mumbadevi Assembly seat, though she was listed on a BJP ticket. Hours later, Shaina made a surprising shift, officially joining the Shiv Sena ahead of next month’s assembly elections.

Shaina, one of 15 Shiv Sena candidates announced, had hoped to contest from Worli but found the seat assigned to Milind Deora, Shiv Sena’s Rajya Sabha MP and ex-Congress leader. Deora now faces Uddhav Thackeray’s son, Aaditya Thackeray of Shiv Sena (UBT), in that constituency. Expressing gratitude to PM Narendra Modi, Eknath Shinde, and deputies Devendra Fadnavis and Ajit Pawar, Shaina thanked the leaders for giving her this opportunity.

In a statement to ANI, she voiced her eagerness to serve Mumbai and announced plans to visit Mumba Devi Temple before filing her nomination. “I am grateful to PM Modi and the Mahayuti leadership for this chance to serve Mumbaikars. Living in South Mumbai, I understand the issues locals face, from cluster development to hygiene,” she said.

She emphasized her commitment to being a “pradhan sewak” (prime servant) for her constituents, stressing that her role as an MLA would extend beyond just holding office. “I intend to be the voice of my citizens, tackling issues through collective efforts with the administration and legislation,” she added.

Shaina assured residents of her availability, saying she has no personal assistant and answers all her calls directly. “I promise to stay accessible and accountable to my voters,” she stated. On Tuesday, she plans to visit the temple before submitting her nomination.

In a similar move, Sanjana Jadhav, daughter of BJP leader Raosaheb Danve, joined the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena after receiving a BJP ticket for Kannad Assembly seat. Other Mahayuti candidates, Ashokrao Mane and Rajendra Yedraokar, have also been fielded from Hatkanangle and Shirol seats, respectively.

This series of candidate shifts and cross-party alliances highlights the strategic maneuvers shaping the upcoming assembly elections.