Pune: The Shiv Sena has intensified efforts to expand its base in Pune, launching ‘Mission Pune’ to woo disgruntled leaders from Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) faction. This has led to a series of high-profile meetings with former party members.

On Saturday (Feb 1), Industries Minister Uday Samant visited the residence of former Kothrud MLA Chandrakant Mokate, raising political speculation. The meeting follows a similar one between former MLA Mahadev Babar and Deputy CM Eknath Shinde, suggesting a strategic push to draw key figures away from the Shiv Sena UBT.

Despite some corporators and party workers already joining the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena, the party still lacks significant influence in key Pune constituencies such as Katraj, Kothrud, Khadakwasla, and Shivajinagar.

To address this, the party’s city heads, MLAs, and ministers are actively engaging with dissatisfied leaders, aiming to bolster their ranks before upcoming elections.

The one-hour closed-door meeting between Minister Uday Samant and Chandrakant Mokate has fueled speculation about Mokate potentially joining the Shiv Sena.

The discussions have triggered political debates about whether Samant will succeed in bringing Mokate into the fold and when a formal switch may occur. However, Mokate later clarified that the meeting was a condolence visit by Samant and had no political implications.

Internal tensions between former MLA Chandrakant Mokate and Prithviraj Sutar have been brewing within the party. During the last assembly elections, Mokate was given the ticket, which led to discontent among Sutar’s supporters, who accused him of staying inactive in the campaign.

Rumors had suggested that Sutar was planning to join the BJP, but that never materialized. Further tensions escalated when Sutar was seated next to Mokate at a recent event, prompting Mokate to leave in frustration and later express his dissatisfaction.