Another ex-MLA from Sena (UBT) joins Shinde

Bhaskar Jadhav, now lone Shiv Sena (UBT) MLA in Konkan, says the party is in dire need of revival

- Shailesh Gaikwad and Yogesh Naik

MUMBAI: The Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena is steadily picking off leaders from the rival Shiv Sena (UBT) camp, deepening the crisis for a party struggling to hold its ground. On Saturday, the Uddhav Thackeray-led Sena (UBT) lost another leader, Subhash Bane, a second former MLA in almost as many days.

Bane, a former legislator from the Konkan, crossed over to the Sena at a rally held by Shinde in Ratnagiri, to thank the people for contributing to his party's victory. Bane joined the Sena along with his son Rohan, who was the Sena (UBT)'s Sangameshwar tehsil chief, and a few other local leaders. Speaking at the rally, Shinde said, "In the Konkan, our strike rate was 95%. They (Thackerays) must introspect on why people are leaving them."