Mass Exodus Crushes Uddhav’s Base, BJP-Mahayuti Clinches Civic Control Ahead of Polls
In a political jolt with far-reaching implications for Maharashtra’s civic landscape, 31 out of 35 corporators from the Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) faction in Nashik have resigned and joined the BJP-led Mahayuti alliance, just months before the November 2025 municipal elections. This mass exodus has virtually wiped out the Uddhav camp’s presence in the Nashik Municipal Corporation, which is one of the state’s most politically significant urban centers.
BIG NEWS 🚨 31 out of 35 SSUBT corporators join BJP+ in Nashik. pic.twitter.com/YuXOPpZw1S
— Times Algebra (@TimesAlgebraIND) July 4, 2025
The defections have turned the tide in favor of the BJP-Mahayuti alliance, bolstering its hold on the Nashik civic body and signaling a clear strategic gain ahead of the polls. The 2017 municipal elections had seen the UBT faction secure 35 seats, making it a dominant player. With just 4 corporators now left, the party finds itself in a crisis of both leadership and credibility at the local level.
State BJP leaders, including Maharashtra BJP President Ravindra Chavan, played a key role in engineering the move. Several of the defecting corporators, including prominent names like Sudhakar Badgujar, were inducted into the BJP fold with high-profile welcomes. Others, such as Vilas Shinde, joined the Eknath Shinde–led Shiv Sena, showing a coordinated Mahayuti effort to destabilize UBT’s base in Nashik.
UBT OBLITERATED: How 31 of 35 Corporators Jumped Ship to BJP+
The timing of the defections is critical. The state government’s upcoming civic ward delimitation is expected to reshape constituencies across Nashik. Many corporators, fearing unfavorable changes to their ward boundaries or losing relevance in their new jurisdictions, have aligned with the ruling Mahayuti alliance in anticipation of a better electoral future.
Political analysts view this as part of a broader pattern of Uddhav Thackeray’s declining organizational influence, especially outside Mumbai. The Nashik defection is being interpreted as not just a tactical win for the BJP but also a symbolic defeat for the Thackeray-led faction, which has struggled to maintain unity since the 2022 Shiv Sena split.
The remaining four corporators loyal to UBT now face the enormous task of rebuilding party credibility, reconnecting with the grassroots, and resisting the growing Mahayuti tide. With the Nashik Municipal Corporation comprising 122 seats, this defection dramatically shifts the power equation ahead of the upcoming civic elections.
The BJP and its allies now hold a commanding position to dictate candidate distribution, claim mayoral control, and further solidify their urban political machinery in northern Maharashtra. As election fever picks up in Nashik, all eyes will be on whether Uddhav Thackeray can contain the damage or if this signals the beginning of an irreversible slide in one of his former strongholds.
