NEW DELHI:
Uddhav Thackeray
aide and Mumbai MLA
Ravindra Waikar
on Sunday jumped ship and joined Eknath Shinde-led
Shiv Sena
.
Waikar, who is an MLA from Mumbai’s Jogeshwari area, had been under investigation by the
Enforcement Directorate
for his alleged involvement in the misuse of a civic plot for the construction of a luxury hotel.
Speaking to reporters after joining, Waikar said he had worked in the Shiv Sena for 50 years and had switched sides for the development of his constituency.
“I’m here because I want to do work for my constituency & a lot of people’s demands are pending. All work will done only when you are in government and people elect you because you have to do work. The central government & state government are working very well,” Waikar said.
Maharashtra chief minister Eknath Shinde welcomed Waikar to the Shiv Sena, highlighting the party’s adherence to the ideals of the late Bal Thackeray.
“Ravindra Waikar joined real Shiv Sena which was going on the ideology of Babasaheb Thackeray. He knows that this government is working for the people of Maharashtra. I welcome Waikar to Shiv Sena. We convert negative things into positive,” Shinde said.
Last month, MP
Sanjay Raut
had claimed that Waikar has been facing immense pressure in the last few days from Enforcement Directorate (ED) and other investigation agencies. He also said that the MLA is being threatened to quit Sena (UBT) and defect to Shinde Sena or go to jail.
Last September, Mumbai police filed an FIR against Waikar, his wife and four others for criminal breach of trust, cheating and criminal conspiracy in connection with an under-construction luxury hotel in Jogeshwari following a complaint from a BMC sub-engineer. ED then registered a money-laundering case, and has recorded Waikar’s statement. Recently, it searched his home, along with the premises of six associates.