Senior Shiv Sena Leader Anita Birje Joins Eknath Shinde's Faction

Senior Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Anita Birje has joined the Shiv Sena led by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde. She was welcomed during a party function. Birje was previously loyal to late Sena veteran Anand Dighe and remained with Uddhav Thackeray after the Sena split in June 2022.

In a significant political move, senior Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Anita Birje has switched allegiances to join the Shiv Sena faction led by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde. The announcement was made on Saturday night at a function attended by several party workers, predominantly women.

Chief Minister Eknath Shinde personally welcomed Birje into the Sena fold, signaling a boost for his faction. Anita Birje, who formerly headed the women’s wing of the Shiv Sena (UBT) in Thane, had been a devoted follower of the late Sena veteran Anand Dighe, Shinde's political mentor.

Despite her long-standing loyalty, Birje had chosen to stay with Uddhav Thackeray following the June 2022 split of the undivided Shiv Sena. Her recent decision marks a pivotal shift in the intra-party dynamics.