Meenatai Kamle, the leader of the party’s women’s wing, joined the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena group in front of the Maharashtra chief minister, dealing a severe blow to the Shiv Sena, headed by Uddhav Thackeray.Meenatai Kambli, a devoted Shiv Sainik, has been involved with the group ever since Bal Thackeray founded it. She actively participated in the Bala Saheb-led movements. She was given the name Veerangana, or Ranragini of Maharashtra, by Bala Saheb in recognition of her contribution to the establishment of a significant network of female Shiv Sainiks in Mumbai.
Meenatai had cordial relations with Bal Thackeray and his wife. After Bala Saheb’s death, Meenatai also got along well with Uddhav and his wife, Rashmi Thackeray. Meenatai and many other female Shiv Sainiks were not pleased when Sushma Andhare, a regular party worker, came to the forefront since she had previously taken an anti-Shiv Sena and anti-Hindu stance. She used to organize public events for Rashmi Thackeray.
Meenatai, who has now finally sided with Shinde and believes it to be the true Shiv Sena, did not take up the bulk of the party’s responsibilities; rather, Sushma did so.
On the other side, the Maharashtra Chief Minister, Eknath Shinde, said on Wednesday that the ‘Mahayuti’, or grand alliance, would now focus on winning 45 of the state’s 48 Lok Sabha seats in the general elections that are due for next year. The ‘Mahayuti’ in the state is made up of the CM Shinde-led Shiv Sena, the governing BJP, and the NCP (Ajit Pawar group).
