Shiv Sena dispute comes out in open, 2 leaders quit the Mumbai civic standing committee

Sena heavyweights Ashish Chemburkar and Mangesh Satamkar resign, allegedly on orders of the party leadership

The resignation of senior Shiv Sena leaders, Ashish Chemburkar and Mangesh Satamkar, from the civic standing committee on Wednesday underscored the party’s internal dispute.

Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray will announce who will replace the two Shiv Sena leaders in the civic standing committee soon. (HT File Photo)

Party insiders have said that the party heavyweights were asked to resign owing to their unsatisfactory performance in the civic body.

The resignation comes a few days before the anticipated committee reshuffle. Each year, the parties in the civic body can replace members of the standing committee.

A senior Shiv Sena leader said that the decision had been taken by the party chief Uddhav Thackeray as Chemburkar and Satamkar did not toe the party lines on several issues in the BMC (Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation).

By asking for their resignation, Thackeray was sending a signal to the party cadre that even senior functionaries need to abide by his decisions.

“The decision has been taken by Uddhavji, and the decision comes after deliberation. These two leaders can head other BMC committees if Uddhavji deems it fit,” he said.

The rift began in 2017, when Satamkar and Chemburkar were bypassed for the roles of group leader and standing committee chairman in favour of Yashwant Jadhav and Ramesh Korganokar, respectively.

The demand for resignation could be a political strategy to sideline two key office-bearers of the Sena. Satamkar and Chemburkar are both Vibhag Pramukhs, a key post in the party hierarchy.

When asked about the resignation, Satamkar said, “We don’t ask questions when orders are given by the party. This is party’s character and discipline. I was asked to resign from the post and I did that without asking for a reason.”

Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray is expected to take the final call on who will replace the two leaders.

The decision comes on the day when six former Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) corporators formally joined the Shiv Sena at the 227-member general body meeting.

Chemburkar and Satamakar could be offered the chairman positions for the Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport and the education committee, said party insiders

The standing committee is a 26-member statutory body which handles the allotment of tenders and controls the treasury.