Maharashtra: Hours After Joining Shiv Sena (UBT), Karan Pawar Gets Lok Sabha Ticket From Jalgaon; Sitting BJP MP Joins Too

After being denied a ticket for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, the sitting BJP MP from Jalgaon, Unmesh Patil joined the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT) on Wednesday (3 April) along with former Parola Municipal Chairperson Karan Pawar.

Soon after this joining, Pawar was declared a Lok Sabha candidate from Jalgaon, along with Vaishali Darekar Rane, Satyajeet Patil and Bharti Kamdi, who have been fielded from Kalyan, Hatkanangale and Palghar respectively.

In 2019, while Unmesh Patil won on a BJP ticket, the rest three seats were won by the undivided Shiv Sena. This time, the BJP has fielded former Maharashtra MLC Smita Wagh from Jalgaon.

Reportedly, Patil decided not to contest himself this time as it would send a wrong message to the people that he switched sides just to get a ticket. He has extended his full support to Pawar.

This will be Shiv Sena's first contest in Jalgaon since 1991 as the seat was always in BJP's quota when the two parties were in alliance. Moreover, all four Jalgaon Shiv Sena MLAs are now a part of the Eknath Shinde faction.