Uddhav’s close associate Ravindra Waikar joins Shinde-led Shiv Sena

“There is a need to influence policy decisions for the welfare of people in my constituency. You can influence policy decisions only when you are in the government. It is primarily for this that I have decided to come over to this side,” MLA Waikar said, while formally joining the Eknath Shinde led Shiv Sena at Varsha on Sunday.

When asked whether he switched allegiance due to pressure from central investigative agencies, Waikar said, “I have faced all the investigating agencies and have cooperated with them. Once you cooperate with these agencies then the truth emerges.”

Welcoming Waikar into the party, Shinde said the allegations levelled against him were a thing of the past. “He is speaking in a positive manner now. He wants to develop his constituency. There were some misunderstandings, which have been cleared and have brought us together,” the CM said.

The development came a day after Uddhav Thackeray visited a shakha at Waikar’s constituency where he was welcomed by the MLA. Waikar was purportedly keeping a distance from Uddhav for the past several months after the Mumbai police and the ED initiated action against him in connection with the construction of a luxury hotel.

Meanwhile, speaking during a shakha visit in Goregaon on Sunday, Uddhav Thackeray said, “If they (BJP and Shinde-led Sena) is thinking that by taking one person from the Sena UBT would make a difference, then they are wrong. It is the people who have gathered here are still with us and they would decide the fate.”

While the speculation about Waikar switching to the ruling alliance was going on for several months, Shiv Sena (UBT) MP and spokesperson Sanjay Raut had alleged that the MLA was facing pressure from investigating agencies and was being threatened to either defect or face jail term.

The construction of the luxury hotel in Mumbai was allegedly in violation of agreement with the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC). In 2023, the Economic Offences Wing (EOW) of the Mumbai police had booked Waikar and five others on a complaint by BJP leader Kirit Somaiya who had alleged that Waikar was involved in a Rs 500-crore scam.

Somaiya alleged that Waikar fraudulently obtained approval for the construction of the hotel on a plot reserved for a garden by using his political clout, causing huge loss to the BMC.

The ED registered a case of money laundering against Waikar in November 2023, based on the FIR by the Mumbai police. The ED raided seven premises connecting to Waikar and also questioned him a few times.

Waikar started his political career as a Shiv Sainik in 1980s and became BMC corporator from Jogeshwari area of Mumbai. He was elected as corporator for four consecutive terms and was the chairman of the standing committee of BMC from 2006 to 2009. Waikar was elected as MLA from Jogeshwari East Assembly Constituency thrice — in 2009, 2014 and 2019.

He also held the portfolio of Minister of State for Housing and Higher and Technical Education from 2015 to 2019 in the BJP-Shiv Sena government. Later in the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government led by Uddhav Thackeray between November 2019 and June 2022, Waikar was the guardian minister for Ratnagiri district, his home district.

Known as a trusted colleague of Uddhav, Waikar played a major role in building the organisational structure of Shiv sena after the former took over in 2000s. He also played a major role in the construction of Shiv Sena Bhavan and Shivalaya.

Somaiya also alleged that Waikar’s wife Manisha Waikar and Uddhav’s wife Rashmi Thackeray had purchased 21 plots located in Kolai village at Murud taluka in Raigad, accusing them of holding disproportionate assets.

The Bombay High Court, while hearing a defamation suit filed by Waikar’s wife against Somaiya, later restrained him from making allegations in public.

Another voice of dissent

Shiv Sena (UBT) MLA Bhaskar Jadhav from Chiplun on Sunday expressed his displeasure with the party in a public rally, claiming that he did not get ministerial position during the Uddhav-led MVA government, despite deserving it.

“In 2019, I was supposed to become a minister. I was the most senior. But I was not made. Again when the party split in June 2022 and the group leader’s position became vacant, I was the most senior to become the group leader… But I never mentioned about not getting these positions,” Jadhav said.

Shinde Sena minister Deepak Kesarkar said that if Jadhav joins the party, he would be welcomed. “If a dare devil leader like Jadhav joins us then he would be surely welcomed,” Kesarkar said.