Former Maharashtra min Baban Gholap resigns from Sena (UBT)

Baban Gholap/ Facebook

Former Maharashtra minister Baban Gholap has resigned from the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT), adding to the political uncertainty ahead of the forthcoming Lok Sabha and state legislature elections. Gholap, a longtime representative of the Nashik Road-Deolali assembly constituency, resigned in a brief letter to Thackeray, effectively ending his tenure as a 'Shiv Sainik', reported PTI.

According to the PTI report, the action follows Gholap's resignation as Shiv Sena (UBT) deputy leader in September of last year, which was not recognised at the time. While he has hesitated from announcing his future political ambitions, it is reported that Gholap's decision comes from displeasure with recent developments inside the party, including his ouster as the liaison head for the Shirdi Lok Sabha constituency and the entry of former MP Bhausaheb Wakchaure into Shiv Sena (UBT) ranks.

Despite his strong influence in the region, Gholap's removal from the Shirdi Lok Sabha seat liaison post destroyed his chances of getting a ticket for the forthcoming general elections, especially with Wakchaure's entrance changing the party dynamics. Notably, Gholap's absence from the recent Shiv Sena (UBT) convention in Nashik revealed the party's internal divisions, the report added.

News agency PTI further reported that Gholap's recent attendance at a meeting led by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde to address community concerns implies that he remains involved in regional politics. Gholap, who served as an MLA from the Nashik Road-Deolali assembly constituency from 1990 to 2014, had his son Yogesh Gholap succeed him in 2014 before losing to NCP's Saroj Ahire in 2019, indicating a generational shift in the constituency's political landscape.

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Maharashtra has recently witnessed a spate of politicians jumping ship with three major leaders from the grand old party Congress with the recent one being former chief minister Ashok Chavan. Chavan joined the Bharatiya Janata Party and has also filed his Rajya Sabha nomination.

Days before Chavan's departure, Baba Siddique, another famous face of Congress quit the party to join forces with Nationalist Congress Party led by Deputy CM Ajit Pawar. His resignation came after he spent nearly five decades with the party. Siddique, a former Maharashtra minister, was associated with Congress for 48 years. Meanwhile, earlier this year, Milind Deora too quit the party to join Shiv Sena led by CM Eknath Shinde.