The Jogeshwari East constituency in Mumbai has become a focal point in the 2024 Maharashtra Assembly Elections as two rival factions of the Shiv Sena—Uddhav Thackeray’s Shiv Sena (UBT) and the Shinde faction of Shiv Sena—accuse each other of election-related cash distribution. Shiv Sena (UBT), led by Uddhav Thackeray, has openly alleged that MP Ravindra Waikar’s camp, aligned with the Shinde faction, is using the Matoshree Club on the Jogeshwari Vikhroli Link Road to influence voters with cash distribution. This club, reportedly under Waikar’s control, is at the center of controversy, with Manisha Waikar, Waikar’s wife, running as the Shiv Sena candidate from Jogeshwari East.
Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Anil Parab stated that his faction filed complaints with authorities, requesting an investigation into the alleged cash distributions at Matoshree Club, but claimed no action was taken. When UBT members approached the venue to question these activities, clashes erupted with supporters from the Shinde faction, who reportedly responded with stones and sticks. The altercation escalated as police arrived and conducted lathi charges that injured several UBT members. Parab announced plans to escalate the issue by consulting the Chief Electoral Officer of Maharashtra, urging action against these alleged cash distribution tactics.
In response, Ravindra Waikar refuted the allegations, asserting instead that UBT members harassed women at the club and behaved aggressively under the influence of alcohol during the confrontation.
Additionally, Waikar accused a UBT member of issuing threats against him, including a warning to “cut his tongue” if he continued to criticize the UBT faction. This war of words comes as both factions aim to secure a stronghold in Mumbai’s Marathi-dominated regions, where the split has drawn sharp political and social divides.
The Jogeshwari East constituency is one of several key battlegrounds in the city, reflecting the broader “Sena versus Sena” struggle that will shape the election outcome across Maharashtra. As the campaign intensifies, these accusations underscore the fierce rivalry and the high stakes associated with the elections.
 and Shiv Sena (Shinde faction)—exchange accusations over alleged election-related cash distributions.){kind=link}