Former Mumbai Mayor Shobha Raul Resigns from Shiv Sena, Meets BJP Leaders

• Former Mumbai Mayor Shobha Raul resigned from Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) just 10 days before municipal elections.
• Her resignation is considered a significant blow to Uddhav Thackeray's faction ahead of the crucial polls.
• Raul cited "certain reasons" for her departure in her resignation letter, while expressing continued faith in Balasaheb Thackeray's ideology.
• Post-resignation, she met BJP Minister Ashish Shelar and MLA Praveen Darekar, fueling speculation about her joining the BJP.
• Shobha Raul served as BMC Mayor for 33 months, was Mumbai's third female Mayor, and represented the Dahisar area.

Why It Matters: Shobha Raul's resignation and meeting with BJP leaders signal a potential political shift before elections.