Shiv Sena (UBT) expels former Hingoli MP Subhash Wankhede for ‘anti-party’ activities

Uddhav expels Subhash Wankhede for alleged sabotage of party candidates ahead of Maharashtra polls

In a surprise move, the Shiv Sena (UBT) expelled its former Hingoli Lok Sabha MP Subhash Wankhede on Saturday, accusing him of engaging in “anti-party” activities. The decision came just 11 days before the crucial Maharashtra Assembly elections scheduled for November 20, leaving party circles stunned.

The expulsion was formalized through a brief notification issued by party Secretary Vinayak Raut. The announcement coincided with the visit of SS(UBT) President Uddhav Thackeray, who was set to address an election rally in Hingoli later in the day.

Reports from Nagpur suggest that Wankhede, a seasoned politician, was allegedly trying to undermine the prospects of official MVA (Maharashtra Vikas Aghadi) candidates in and around Hingoli. Sources claim he had been making efforts to support rival party nominees, which led to the party’s decision to expel him. Wankhede was reportedly involved in other irregularities, prompting Shiv Sena (UBT) to take swift action.

Wankhede, 63, had a long association with the undivided Shiv Sena. He served as a Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) from the Hadgaon seat for three terms (1995, 1999, 2004) and later represented Hingoli as a Member of Parliament from 2009 until his defeat in the 2014 general elections. Following the split in Shiv Sena in 2022, Wankhede had aligned with the Uddhav Thackeray faction, hoping for a ticket in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. However, the party eventually fielded Nagesh B Patil-Ashetkar, who defeated the Shiv Sena’s Hemant S Patil.

The expulsion comes amid heightened political activity in Maharashtra as the MVA coalition—comprising Shiv Sena (UBT), Congress, and NCP—gears up for the Assembly elections, hoping to unseat the ruling Mahayuti alliance of Shiv Sena (Shinde faction), BJP, and NCP (Ajit Pawar faction). The upcoming election is set against a backdrop of shifting alliances, with the MVA coalition eager to regain the power they held briefly in 2019 when Uddhav Thackeray was sworn in as Chief Minister. However, after a vertical split in the Shiv Sena, Thackeray was ousted and replaced by Eknath Shinde.

The political landscape in Maharashtra has drastically changed, particularly after the NCP’s internal division in 2023, when Ajit Pawar joined the Mahayuti coalition. With the election just days away, the political turmoil is likely to have a significant impact on the outcome.

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