Thackeray Alliance Announced, MNS District President Jumps to Shinde Shiv Sena

• Uddhav Thackeray and MNS President Raj Thackeray announced an alliance on Marathi issues for upcoming municipal elections.
• Hours after the alliance, MNS Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar District President Sumit Khambekar joined Eknath Shinde's Shiv Sena.
• Khambekar's defection occurred in Mumbai in the presence of Deputy CM Eknath Shinde, along with other Marathwada district presidents.
• This move is considered a setback for MNS just before the crucial municipal corporation elections.
• The Thackeray faction celebrated the alliance in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, anticipating its impact on local elections.

Why It Matters: Thackeray brothers' alliance is overshadowed by a key MNS leader's defection to Shinde's Shiv Sena.