The Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT) on Thursday (January 1, 2026) suffered a setback ahead of the BMC elections as its deputy leader Sheetal Devrukhkar-Sheth, who worked closely with Aaditya Thackeray on party initiatives, resigned from the organisation. Announcing her decision to leave the Sena (UBT), Ms. Devrukhkar-Sheth said she would join the BJP shortly in the presence of its State president Ravindra Chavan. A senior leader in the Yuva Sena, the youth wing of Sena (UBT), Ms. Devrukhkar-Sheth was a member of its core committee and was considered one of Aaditya Thackeray’s closest associates. Sources said Ms. Devrukhkar-Sheth was asked to prepare herself for the BMC elections as the party was planning to field her. However, she never featured in any of the lists of Sena (UBT), they said.

Source: The Hindu January 01, 2026 15:42 UTC