Uddhav Thackeray Suffers Major Blow as Close Aide Dagdu Sakpal Joins Shinde Camp

• Former MLA Dagdu Sakpal, a close aide of Uddhav Thackeray, joined the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena just before BMC elections.
• Sakpal's defection is significant as Lalbaug-Parel-Sewri, his stronghold, has been a traditional bastion of the Thackeray family for five decades.
• Eknath Shinde welcomed Sakpal, calling it a "golden day" for Shiv Sena and a blessing from Lalbaugcha Raja and Mumbai cha Raja.
• Sakpal expressed personal dissatisfaction with the Thackeray faction, stating he wants to work for the "real Shiv Sena" with the 'bow and arrow' symbol.
• This move is seen as Shinde's strategy to weaken Thackeray's influence in Mumbai ahead of the BMC elections on January 15.

Why It Matters: Uddhav Thackeray faces a significant setback as key loyalist Dagdu Sakpal defects to Eknath Shinde's Shiv Sena.