Eknath Shinde secured a significant victory in the 2024 Maharashtra Assembly elections, retaining the Kopri-Pachpakhadi seat in Thane with 159,060 votes. This fierce three-way contest highlighted Shinde’s political dominance and the Shiv Sena’s internal rivalries.

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• Eknath Shinde retained the Kopri-Pachpakhadi seat, his stronghold, winning 159,060 votes.
• The election marked a fierce three-way contest in the constituency.
• Kedar Dighe, nephew of Shinde’s mentor Anand Dighe, contested as a Shiv Sena (UBT) candidate.
• Independent candidate Manoj Shinde, expelled from Congress, also participated, splitting votes.
• The constituency holds strategic importance for both Eknath Shinde and Shiv Sena (UBT).
• In 2024 Lok Sabha polls, Shinde’s faction had defeated UBT MP Rajan Vichare in this area.
• Shinde’s political journey started in Thane; he has been an MLA since 2004, retaining his seat in consecutive terms.
• The 2022 Shiv Sena split propelled Shinde to lead a rebellion, later becoming Maharashtra’s CM.
• Backed by the BJP, Shinde claims to uphold Balasaheb Thackeray’s ideology, countering “traitor” narratives.
• The win reaffirms Shinde’s leadership and ability to retain his bastion amid rival challenges.