Shiv Sena to perform better in upcoming ZP polls: Shrikant Shinde

Nashik: Shiv Sena MP Shrikant Shinde on Monday expressed confidence that the party will have an improved performance in the upcoming Zilla Parishad (ZP) elections in Maharashtra, stating that organisational strengthening efforts were already underway in the state.Shinde was in Nashik as part of a series of organisational meetings ahead of the ZP polls. He told reporters that the party has been actively engaging with grassroots workers to consolidate its base. He formally launched the statewide ‘Shiv Samvad Yatra’ from Nashik, aimed at strengthening the party organisation and enhancing communication with Shiv Sainiks.As part of the tour, Shinde held a review meeting of the Igatpuri and Deolali assembly constituencies and interacted with local office-bearers. He said, “The meetings were intended to assess the party’s preparedness and provide direction to workers ahead of the rural local body elections.”Referring to the party’s recent performance in municipal council and municipal corporation elections, Shinde said Shiv Sena had delivered strong results across the state. While the party secured fewer seats in the Nashik Municipal Corporation, he pointed out that several candidates narrowly lost by margins as low as 100 to 200 votes.“These results indicate that the party has a strong support base in Nashik. We are confident of converting this into a better performance in the upcoming ZP polls,” he said.Shinde also highlighted that elections to around 20 Zilla Parishads in the state are yet to be held.Earlier, Shinde, along with state industries minister Uday Samant, held a meeting with party leaders and workers at a private hotel in the city. Ministers Gulabrao Patil and Dada Bhuse were also present. During the meeting, leaders urged party workers to intensify their efforts and work with full dedication to ensure a decisive victory in the upcoming elections.The party leaders also discussed preparations for the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, which is scheduled to begin next month. They said the mapping process is currently underway, and booth-level agents (BLAs) have already been appointed in most areas of Igatpuri and Deolali assembly segments.Party workers, particularly from Yuva Sena and Mahila Aghadi, were urged to take an active role in verifying voter lists, ensuring that eligible voters’ names are not deleted, removing bogus entries, and facilitating the inclusion of new voters.Shinde also interacted with local leaders to understand their grievances and issued instructions to address organisational issues at the ground level.