Congress MLA Jayshree Jadhav Switches Side To Shiv Sena After Ticket Denial

Thane: Jayshree Jadhav, the Congress MLA from Kolhapur North, has given a massive jolt to the party by switching allegiance to the Shiv Sena led by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde . Jadhav's decision to join Shiv Sena was followed after she was denied a ticket by the Congress party for the upcoming Maharashtra assembly elections.

On Thursday, Jadhav, accompanied by her son Satyajit, officially joined the Shiv Sena in a ceremony attended by Eknath Shinde. As she joined the party, she was appointed as the deputy leader of the party and designated as the in-charge of its women's wing. This move comes as the Shiv Sena is looking to strengthen its presence in Kolhapur, and CM Shinde expressed optimism about the positive impact of Jadhav’s entry into the party.

Jayshree Jadhav's political journey began when she was elected as an MLA from Kolhapur North in a by-election held in 2022, following the passing of her husband, Chandrakant Jadhav. The family has a long-standing association with the Shiv Sena, however, her husband had shifted to the Congress after being denied a ticket himself. Reflecting on her decision, Jadhav stated that her switch to the Shiv Sena was driven by her discontent with the Congress party's refusal to grant her a ticket.

Her departure from the Congress party underscores ongoing tensions within Maharashtra's political landscape, particularly as various parties vie for influence in the assembly elections. By aligning herself with the Shiv Sena, Jadhav aims to leverage her family’s historical ties to the party and its established support base in the region.

The Shiv Sena, in recent years, has faced challenges in maintaining its electoral foothold, and the addition of Jadhav is seen as a strategic move to enhance its prospects in Kolhapur.