Mon Dec 15 22:29:24 UTC 2025: Here’s a summary of the text and a rewritten version as a news article:

Summary:

Former Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) corporator and Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Tejasvi Ghosalkar, from North Mumbai, has joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) ahead of the upcoming BMC elections. This move is seen as a significant blow to the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT) due to the Ghosalkar family’s influence in the region. Ghosalkar cited her desire to pursue development work under Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis’s leadership as the reason for the switch, acknowledging the difficulty in leaving her former party. The move follows speculation fueled by her appointment to the Mumbai District Central Co-operative Bank board by BJP leader Pravin Darekar after her husband’s death. While she emphasized the challenges of balancing her political and personal life, the Shiv Sena (UBT) criticizes Uddhav Thackeray for allegedly neglecting party members, contributing to Ghosalkar’s departure.

News Article:

Shiv Sena (UBT) Suffers Setback as Tejasvi Ghosalkar Joins BJP Ahead of BMC Elections

Mumbai, December 16, 2025 – In a move that is being seen as a major blow to the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT), former BMC corporator and prominent North Mumbai leader Tejasvi Ghosalkar has defected to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). The announcement came on Monday, December 15th, 2025, and is expected to have significant implications for the upcoming Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections.

Ghosalkar, the widow of slain Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Abhishek Ghosalkar, cited her desire to accelerate development work in her constituency under the leadership of Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis as the driving force behind her decision. “It is a hard and painful decision to leave the party who gave me identity”, she said.

Her departure comes amidst speculation that began after BJP leader Pravin Darekar appointed her to the Mumbai District Central Co-operative Bank board following her husband’s death two years ago.

While acknowledging the personal challenges she faces in balancing her political and personal life, the Shiv Sena (UBT) leadership faces criticism for allegedly neglecting its party functionaries. Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Shirsat claimed that Thackeray’s party did not provide adequate support to Ghosalkar after her husband’s murder, contributing to her decision to switch parties. “From last one and half year, she was not in mindset to stay with Uddhav Thackeray’s party. She also contacted Eknath Shinde and now BJP… No one wants to stay with them”.

Ghosalkar’s father-in-law, Vinod Goshalkar, a Shiv Sena (UBT) leader himself, expressed sadness at her decision. He stated, “If Abhishek would have been here this would have not happen… She left but I am still with Thackerays.”

The BMC elections are expected to be a closely contested affair, and Ghosalkar’s move to the BJP is likely to significantly alter the political landscape in North Mumbai. The fallout from this defection within the Shiv Sena (UBT) is also expected to continue in the coming days.

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