Shinde Sena suspends leader shot by BJP MLA for anti-party activities

Eknath Shinde's Shiv Sena said that members of the outfit, including Mahesh Gaikwad, engaged in "anti-party" activities and did not abide by directives of the leadership in the current elections.

In Short

• Nine others also suspended by Shinde Sena for anti-party activities
• Party says they did not follow party's instructions in current elections
• Mahesh Gaikwad was shot by BJP's Ganpat Gaikwad in February

Controversial Shiv Sena leader from Kalyan in Thane district, Mahesh Gaikwad, and nine other members of the ruling outfit have been suspended for "anti-party" activities during the ongoing Maharashtra Assembly election process.

Mahesh Gaikwad hit headlines in February this year when he was shot at by BJP MLA Ganpat Gaikwad inside a police station in Ulhasnagar town over an old enmity.

A statement issued on Wednesday by Kalyan district chief of the Shiv Sena, Gopal Landge, said members of the outfit, including Mahesh Gaikwad, engaged in "anti-party" activities and did not abide by directives of the leadership in the current elections.

The Shiv Sena and the BJP are part of the ruling Mahayuti alliance along with the NCP.

In another development, the BJP has suspended for six years the Kalyan Mandal President Varun Patil, who is contesting as an independent candidate from the Kalyan West constituency in the November 20 Assembly polls.