Mumbai: Congress legislator Nirmala Gavit and NCP leader Rashmi Bagal joined Shiv Sena in the presence of party chief Uddhav Thackeray at Matoshree on Wednesday.
Ms Gavit had submitted her resignation to the Maharashtra Assembly Speaker Haribhau Bagade on Tuesday. Ms Gavit, daughter of veteran Congress leader and nine-time parliamentarian Manikrao Gavit, also resigned from the primary membership of the Congress party.
On the other hand, Ms Bagal is the daughter of the late state minister and former Karmala MLA, Digambar Bagal. “The party is expanding. Good people are joining us. We have to take everyone with us in our journey,” Mr Thackeray said.
On the question of alliance between the BJP and Shiv Sena, Mr Thackeray said, “Our alliance is intact. We have already decided over it. Everything is going as per the plan.”
Last week, Ms Gavit had met senior Shiv Sena leader and public health minister Eknath Shinde in Igatpuri to discuss her entry into the party. However, Congress had alleged that Ms Gavit was pressurised to quit the Congress by the BJP-Shiv Sena. Of late, Shiv Sena has been witnessing an influx of Opposition leaders.
