Nagpur: The merger of ex-MLA Bachchu Kadu’s Prahar Janshakti Party with Shiv Sena (Shinde) is being seen as a strategic political arrangement that benefits both sides and fits deputy CM Eknath Shinde‘s broader plan to expand the party’s footprint in Vidarbha. Kadu, who lost the 2024 polls, gets to be politically relevant by securing a seat in the Legislative Council, Shinde gets a known face with an established mass base to break into the BJP bastion of Vidarbha.While Sena does have MLAs and even an MP from Vidarbha, it has played second fiddle to ally BJP. This is something which even the erstwhile united Shiv Sena tried to do, but did not meet with much success. Sources say with Shinde ‘feeling the heat’ from partner BJP, there is now a concerted effort to not only ringfence its current strongholds but also to enter what is traditionally known as BJP’s domain.Sena’s chief spokesperson Raju Waghmare said any expansion should not be seen as a move against BJP. “Every party has a right to expand and it is wrong for us to not even consider those who approach us,” said Waghmare. “Now with Shinde saheb at the helm, people want to work under his leadership. And Kadu had openly supported Shinde saheb after his revolt in 2022, so it’s not that he has changed his views drastically about us due to some compulsions,” said Waghmare.Kadu’s entry coincided with Sena MP Pratap Jadhav taking charge as Vidarbha’s sampark mantri. A day before Kadu’s entry, Jadhav held a crucial meeting in Nagpur with Sena officials and discussed expansion plans. But Kadu’s entry specifically is being discussed because of his public rivalry with former Amravati MP and BJP leader Naveent Rana and her MLA husband Ravi.Waghmare said, “Such differences of opinion happen within the party as well, so it’s never a deal breaker. Also there are many like Kadu who may not wish to join BJP, and if we also reject them then they will go to opposition. Here at least the Mahayuti alliance becomes stronger, that’s the way we must look at things.”
