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Shiv Sena MLA Shriniwas Vanga Goes Missing After Losing Ticket, Expresses Regret Over Joining Eknath Shinde

  • 29 Oct 2024 10:41 PM
  • Shriniwas Vanga, Maharashtra politics, MLA missing

In a dramatic turn of events in Maharashtra politics, Shriniwas Vanga, an MLA from Eknath Shinde's faction of Shiv Sena, has gone missing following the announcement that his ticket for the Palghar constituency has been allotted to another candidate. This development has raised concerns among his family and political circles.

Before his disappearance, Vanga had openly expressed his regret over leaving Uddhav Thackeray's faction to support Shinde, stating, "I left a god-like person for Shinde and now I have been betrayed." He had packed a bag and left home around 7 PM on Monday, and has since become unreachable. His family reported that he was distraught over the recent seat allocation, which favored former MP Rajendra Gavit instead of him.

Chief Minister Eknath Shinde has reached out to Vanga's wife, reflecting the growing concern over his well-being. Vanga's journey in politics has been tumultuous; he was initially among the first MLAs to support Shinde in his rebellion against Thackeray. His father, Chintamani Vanga, a prominent Scheduled Tribe leader and BJP MP, passed away in office in 2018, leading Shriniwas to join Shiv Sena.

Despite his loyalty, Vanga was offered a position in the legislative council, which he dismissed as a mere "lollipop." This has added to his frustration, especially as he believed he would be given a ticket for the Dahanu constituency instead.

The situation has sparked speculation about Vanga's potential return to Thackeray's faction. Senior leader Sanjay Raut criticized Vanga's previous decision to leave, stating, "Uddhav Thackeray gave you everything and yet you left the party. We have no sympathy for him, because of his karma."

As this story develops, many are left wondering about the future of Vanga within Maharashtra's complex political landscape and whether he will seek reconciliation with Uddhav Thackeray.