UBT's deputy leaderNirmala Gavit joins Shiv Sena
Nashik: Shiv Sena (UBT) experienced another setback in Nashik as Nirmala Gavit, former MLA and the party's deputy leader, switched allegiance to join Shiv Sena led by deputy chief minister
Eknath Shinde
.
The formal joining ceremony took place in Thane on Wednesday afternoon, where deputy CM Eknath Shinde welcomed her to the party. This development follows the recent exit of former Yeola MLC Narendra Darade from Sena (UBT).
Darade too joined Shiv Sena. Gavit had contested the 2024 state assembly elections as an independent candidate from the Igatpuri constituency but lost to the NCP's Hiraman Khoskar. The seat was allocated to Congress under the Maha Vikas Aghadi seat-sharing arrangement.
Congress fielded Lucky Jadhav, leading Gavit to contest as an independent. Earlier, Gavit had secured victories in the Igatpuri assembly constituency in 2009 and 2014 as a Congress candidate.
In 2019, she joined the then-unified Shiv Sena but faced defeat in the assembly elections.
Upon joining Shiv Sena, Gavit expressed her commitment to Igatpuri taluka's comprehensive development and addressing the constituency's expectations.
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She highlighted her focus on resolving local issues and completing pending projects in the region.
A significant number of women workers from the taluka accompanied Gavit during her joining. Deputy CM Shinde confirmed the continuation of the "Ladki Bahin" scheme, announcing plans for gradual increases in the allocated amount. He promised support to Gavit for advancing proposed and pending irrigation projects in Nashik district's Igatpuri taluka.
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