In a surprising political move, Akhil Chitre, a local Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) leader, has defected to the Shiv Sena (UBT), expressing disillusionment with MNS’s current political strategy. Chitre has pledged his support to ensure the victory of Shiv Sena (UBT) candidate Varun Sardesai in the Bandra East Assembly constituency, vowing to work against his former party’s candidate.

Chitre, who spent 18 years with MNS, expressed that the ideology that once fuelled his loyalty now feels compromised. “For the last 18 years, I have been working with this political party for a cause, a vision, and an ideology that was sacrosanct to me. That ideology now seems lost,” Chitre stated. He condemned MNS's approach of fielding candidates solely to split votes and weaken other contenders rather than striving for a clear victory. “They have fielded Trupti Sawant with the sole intention of splitting votes and harming Varun Sardesai. I don’t want to be part of such gimmicks,” Chitre said, clarifying that he could no longer align himself with MNS’s tactics.