Shiv Sena spokesman Anand Dubey defects to Shinde faction

Anand Dubey, who served as the national spokesperson and prominent Hindi-language face of the Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray faction of Shiv Sena, formally resigned from his primary membership and spokesperson role on Wednesday. Dubey submitted his resignation citing fundamental disagreements with the party leadership's approach to matters concerning the Election Commission and electoral procedures. The move marks a significant defection within Maharashtra's fractured political landscape, where the Shiv Sena has remained divided since mid-2022. Dubey's departure was formalized in the presence of Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, with whom he subsequently joined the rival Shinde-led Shiv Sena faction. The defection strengthens Shinde's camp ahead of ongoing political developments in the state and represents a notable loss for the UBT faction, which has relied heavily on Dubey's media presence and communication strategy in recent months.