States » WestPosted at: Nov 5 2026 1:12AM


MNS suffers major setback in Pune as senior leader Ranjit Shirole joins Congress

Pune, Nov 4 (UNI) The Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) has suffered a major setback in Pune with senior party leader Ranjit Shirole quitting the party and joining the Congress. Shirole formally joined the Congress in the presence of Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee president Harshwardhan Sapkal.
Shirole was one of the prominent MNS leaders in Pune and had served as the party's state general secretary. He had been associated with the MNS since its formation and played an active role in strengthening the party, particularly in the Shivajinagar Assembly constituency. In March 2023, MNS chief Raj Thackeray appointed him as the party's state general secretary. However, he resigned from the post in 2024.
Shirole had also contested the 2009 Lok Sabha election from the Pune constituency on an MNS ticket. He secured around 75,000 votes and finished third in the electoral contest, marking a significant performance for the party at the time.
His family also has a long association with Pune's political landscape. His father had served as chairman of the Standing Committee of the Pune Municipal Corporation.
Explaining his decision to join the Congress, Shirole said that his family had longstanding ties with the party. He added that he wanted to work as an individual and had chosen the Congress as the platform to pursue that objective.
"The Congress has made a significant contribution to the nation's development. The kind of momentum Rahul Gandhi has created today is like a storm, and I want to become a part of it," Shirole said.
He further stated that he would now work for the Congress and make efforts to expand the party's reach among the people.
Shirole's departure is being viewed as a significant political setback for the MNS in Pune, particularly given his long association with the party and his organisational experience.
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