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Rahul Shewale
Rahul Shewale
Rahul Shewale
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Rahul Ramesh Shewale (born 14 April 1973) is an Indian politician from the Shiv Sena and served as the Lok Sabha member from the Mumbai South Central constituency.[2]

Key Information

Shewale is a four-time chairman of the standing committee of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), the municipal corporation of the city of Mumbai. He held the position from 2010 to 2014. His nomination for a fifth time was replaced by Yashodhar Phanse after he was declared a candidate for the Lok Sabha. He, along with his predecessor Ravindra Waikar, hold the record for being appointed the chairman of the BMC standing committee the most times.[3][4]

Personal life

[edit]

Rahul Shewale was born on 14 April 1973 to Ramesh Sambhaji Shewale, an Indian Navy officer and Jayashri Shewale, an employee of MTNL. His elder brother Avinash is a software engineer, who has settled in the United States, while his brother Navin is a doctor. He married fellow Shiv Sena politician and BMC corporator Kamini Mayekar (Kamini Shewale) on 14 February 2005. Kamini Shewale is a housewife. The couple have two sons: Swayam and Vedant.[5]

Shewale is a Diploma holder in Civil Engineering from Government Polytechnic, Bandra.[6]

Political career

[edit]

Besides a four-time chairman of the all-powerful standing committee of the BMC, Shewale has also headed the Market and Garden Committee and the Ward Committee and was also a member of the Law Committee.[6]

He was SS candidate from Trombay assembly seat in 2004 vidhansabha elections but lost to congress candidate.

Shewale, then a BMC corporator from Anushakti Nagar was nominated by his party as the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) candidate from Mumbai South Central constituency in the 2014 Indian general election. Shewale, a Dalit leader was fielded against the sitting 2-time MP and Dalit leader Eknath Gaikwad of the Congress party, which was part of the United Progressive Alliance (UPA).[7] Shewale got 3.8 lakh votes and won by a margin of 1.38 lakh over his nearest rival Gaikwad.[8]

After the split in Shiv Sena, Rahul Shewale left Uddhav Thackeray and went with Eknath Shinde.[9]

  • 2002: Elected as corporator in BMC
  • 2007: Elected as corporator in Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation [10]
  • 2012: Re-elected as corporator in Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation [11]
  • 2012-2014: Standing Committee Chairman Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation [12]
  • 2014 : Elected to 16th Lok Sabha
  • 2019 : Elected to 17th Lok Sabha
  • 2022 a[13]

References

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Rahul Shewale

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Rahul Ramesh Shewale (born 14 April 1973) is an Indian politician affiliated with the party, who served as a for the South Central constituency in the from 2014 to 2024. A holder of a diploma in from Government Polytechnic, , Shewale worked as a civil contractor and consultant prior to and alongside his political career. Shewale entered politics through , securing victories in the 2014 and 2019 elections from South Central before losing to of Shiv Sena (UBT) in 2024. Following the 2022 Shiv Sena split amid the Maharashtra political crisis, he aligned with the faction, which formed a coalition government with the , and served as the parliamentary group leader for this faction in the . His tenure has been marked by involvement in local issues such as urban redevelopment and infrastructure in , though specific legislative achievements are limited in . Shewale faced significant in 2022 when a Dubai-based woman accused him of under false pretenses of marriage; he denied the allegations, claiming the complainant had links to underworld figures including and demanding an NIA investigation, with no charges filed against him as of the latest available .

Early life and education

Family background and upbringing

Rahul Ramesh Shewale was born on 14 April 1973 in , , to Ramesh Sambhaji Shewale and Jayshree Ramesh Shewale. His family resided in the Shiv Tirth area of , a suburb within the Mumbai South Central constituency known for its dense, lower-middle-class population comprising primarily Marathi-speaking residents engaged in local labor and small-scale enterprises. Shewale's early upbringing occurred amid Mumbai's urban socio-economic dynamics, including rapid industrialization and migration patterns that drew families like his from regional roots to city fringes for livelihood opportunities in , textiles, and informal sectors—contexts emblematic of Shiv Sena's traditional voter base in such areas. Specific details on parental occupations remain undocumented in public parliamentary or electoral records, underscoring the modest, community-oriented origins typical of many natives in similar locales.

Professional training and early career

Shewale completed a Diploma in Civil at Government Polytechnic, , providing him with foundational technical knowledge in and infrastructure development. Following his education, he established himself as a civil contractor and in , engaging in practical work on urban projects that addressed the city's infrastructure demands, such as building and maintenance in densely populated areas. This hands-on experience in contracting predated his political involvement in the , emphasizing a trajectory built on professional expertise rather than inherited connections. By the early , his role in the sector had positioned him with direct insight into 's developmental challenges, including slum redevelopment and civic needs.

Personal life

Marriage and immediate family

Rahul Shewale married Smt. Kamini Rahul Shewale on 14 February 2005. His , previously known as Kamini Mayekar, is a Shiv Sena affiliate who has held the position of corporator in the , maintaining an independent political profile within the party's operations. The couple has two sons, with limited public details available regarding their personal lives to respect privacy. The family resides in , embedded in the city's political ecosystem through ties, though Shewale and his wife operate autonomously in their respective roles without evident overlap in campaigns or decision-making.

Entry into politics

Initial involvement in local governance

Shewale's political engagement began in the early through involvement with Shiv Sena's local shakhas (branches) in 's eastern suburbs, particularly in the Mumbai South Central constituency, where he built support among residents facing urban challenges. This local activism laid the foundation for his entry into formal governance. In 2002, he was first elected as a corporator to the (BMC) from Ward No. 144 in , securing a position to represent community concerns at the municipal level. During his initial term, Shewale focused on ward-level issues, including infrastructure maintenance and housing disputes common in densely populated areas like , drawing on his professional experience as a diploma holder and contractor to for practical solutions. He was re-elected as a BMC corporator in 2007, consolidating his local base amid Shiv Sena's dominance in Mumbai's civic polls. By this period, his role extended to BMC committees, where he addressed bottlenecks in urban development projects, such as repairs and slum rehabilitation, contributing to the party's control over municipal decision-making. Shewale's early tenure highlighted his rise from shakha-level organizer to influential corporator, emphasizing direct engagement with voters on everyday governance matters rather than broader policy debates. This phase solidified his reputation for handling constituency-specific grievances, setting the stage for deeper BMC leadership roles without venturing into state or national arenas.

Affiliation with Shiv Sena

Rahul Shewale began his association with as a grassroots-level worker, serving as a shakha pramukh (branch chief) in during the early 2000s, which positioned him at the foundational organizational tier of the party's . This role involved mobilizing local support and upholding Shiv Sena's emphasis on Marathi regionalism—prioritizing the interests of the "Marathi manoos" ()—alongside its advocacy for principles, reflecting Shewale's early commitment to the party's dual ideological pillars of cultural preservation and . Shewale's progression within Shiv Sena's Maharashtra unit demonstrated sustained loyalty, as he advanced from local branch leadership to broader organizational responsibilities in Mumbai, including coordination of party activities at the city level. His tenure as a committed functionary was marked by active participation in pre-2019 party campaigns, where he contributed to grassroots mobilization efforts, evidenced by consistent internal endorsements and his integration into the party's Mumbai-centric operational framework. This empirical track record of dedication, spanning over a decade, underscored his adaptation to Shiv Sena's internal dynamics under successive leaderships, without notable public dissent prior to factional tensions.

Parliamentary and party roles

Lok Sabha elections and representation

Rahul Shewale was first elected to the in the 2014 general elections as the candidate from the Mumbai South Central constituency, defeating the nominee by a margin of over 100,000 votes. He secured re-election in the 2019 general elections to the from the same seat, polling 424,913 votes for a 53.30% vote share against the candidate's 289,405 votes. In the 2024 general elections, following the 2022 Shiv Sena split, Shewale contested from Mumbai South Central under the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena faction allied with the BJP-led NDA, but lost to Anil Desai of the Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) faction, who secured victory amid a closely fought urban contest influenced by local redevelopment projects like Dharavi. During his tenure in the (2014–2019), Shewale participated in 208 debates and raised questions on constituency-specific issues including urban flooding and infrastructure strain in Mumbai's densely populated areas like and , which face chronic challenges from urban poverty, inadequate housing, and overburdened transport networks. In the (2019–2024), he engaged in 143 debates, including special mentions on Mumbai's disruptions and support for the Jammu and Kashmir Reservation (Amendment) Bill, 2019, while maintaining attendance aligned with Shiv Sena's parliamentary strategy focused on regional development demands. Shewale's voting record included support for key legislation such as the Women's Reservation Bill, 2023, which he endorsed as part of the NDA alliance, contrasting with abstentions by rival Shiv Sena (UBT) MPs despite party whips. His legislative interventions emphasized infrastructure bills addressing housing shortages and transport upgrades in South Central, a constituency encompassing slum-heavy zones like and industrial hubs requiring enhanced urban mobility.
Election YearParty/AffiliationVotes SecuredVote Share (%)OutcomeOpponent's Votes
2014Not specified in available dataMajority winWon~300,000 ()
2019424,91353.30Won289,405 ()
2024Shiv Sena (Shinde faction)Lost to opponentN/ALostWon by (UBT)

Leadership positions in Shiv Sena

Following the Shiv Sena schism in June 2022, precipitated by 's rebellion against Uddhav Thackeray's leadership, Speaker formally recognized Rahul Shewale as the floor leader of in the on July 19, 2022. This decision was prompted by a petition from 12 of the party's 19 members aligned with Shinde, who affirmed Shewale's authority over their faction and sought to replace the prior leadership nominated by Thackeray's group. In his role as floor leader for the Shinde faction—subsequently designated Shiv Sena by the —Shewale has focused on organizational discipline and parliamentary coordination. He issued show-cause notices in September 2023 to four MPs from the rival Shiv Sena (UBT faction, including and , for defying the party whip by abstaining from the vote on the (One Hundred and Sixth Amendment) Bill, 2023, which sought women's reservation in legislatures. Shewale's leadership has underpinned the Shinde faction's alignment with the BJP-led (NDA), enabling unified support for central legislation and bolstering the stability of Shinde's government formed in alliance with the BJP on June 30, 2022. This positioning has facilitated the faction's participation in NDA floor strategies, distinct from the opposition-oriented Shiv Sena (UBT.

Ideological stances and contributions

Advocacy for urban development projects

Shewale has been a vocal proponent of the Redevelopment Project (DRP), initiated under the government to transform Asia's largest cluster, home to approximately 1 million residents, into modern housing with integrated infrastructure. In February 2024, he accused the Shiv Sena (UBT and other opposition parties of spreading false propaganda under environmental pretexts to obstruct the initiative, emphasizing that such delays perpetuate substandard living conditions without addressing core . He argued that the project, awarded via global tender and monitored by state authorities, would deliver verifiable outcomes including rehabilitation for eligible residents, expanded commercial spaces fostering job creation in leather tanning and small-scale industries, and overall economic upliftment by unlocking land for sustainable urban expansion. In April 2025, Shewale defended the government's survey deadlines for resident enumeration, criticizing for politicizing the process and highlighting DRP as the nation's sole initiative extending rehabilitation to structures predating 2000 cutoffs, even amid eligibility disputes, to prioritize resident welfare over bureaucratic hurdles. He linked project success to anti-encroachment measures, noting that unchecked expansions exacerbate strain, while enforces planned zoning to mitigate flooding and sanitation crises through elevated housing and utilities. Shewale has tied urban planning enforcement to curbing illegal immigration's role in unplanned settlements. In January 2025, his representation to the Ministry of Home Affairs prompted directives to for identifying and deporting illegal Bangladeshi immigrants, many integrated into slums via forged documents, which he contended distort urban demographics and hinder redevelopment by inflating ineligible claims. This stance underscores his view that rigorous verification in projects like DRP prevents resource dilution, enabling genuine residents to access 300-square-foot homes and skill-based employment opportunities projected to generate thousands of local jobs.

Defense of Hindutva principles and nationalism

Shewale has publicly accused Shiv Sena (UBT) leaders, particularly Sanjay Raut, of consistently undermining Hindutva principles by insulting associated festivals and traditions, contrasting this with his faction's commitment to cultural orthodoxy. In a February 17, 2025, statement in Mumbai, Shewale asserted that "Shiv Sena (UBT) has always tried to insult Hindutva" and specifically highlighted Raut's repeated derogatory remarks toward Hindutva observances. He positioned his Shinde-led Shiv Sena as the true guardian of these values, arguing that such insults deviate from the party's foundational ideology of prioritizing Hindu cultural assertions in Maharashtra. In alignment with the (BJP), Shewale has rejected alliances perceived as conciliatory toward , attributing pro-China leanings to and its partners, which he views as antithetical to robust Indian nationalism. He criticized for stances that compromise national security interests, emphasizing 's post-2022 realignment under as a return to assertive patriotism alongside the BJP. This position echoes his earlier action in July 2022, when he became the first MP to urge to back BJP's NDA presidential candidate , signaling fidelity to a nationalist front over opposition coalitions. Shewale's factional loyalty underscores an empirical defense of Bal Thackeray's legacy, portraying the Shinde group as the authentic inheritor of Shiv Sena's ethos against UBT's alleged dilutions through alliances with secularist parties like and NCP ( faction). In July 2022, as part of the 12 Shiv Sena MPs who shifted to , Shewale endorsed the claim that their actions preserved Thackeray's ideals of uncompromised , rejecting UBT's governance as a departure from the founder's vision of Marathi-Hindu pride. This stance was reinforced by Speaker Om Birla's recognition of Shewale as Shiv Sena's floor leader on July 19, 2022, validating the Shinde camp's ideological continuity.

Controversies

In July 2022, a Dubai-based filed a complaint accusing Rahul Shewale of raping her multiple times since 2020 under the pretext of , alleging emotional and mental exploitation; she had initially approached Sakinaka in April 2022 but claimed no FIR was registered, prompting her to seek intervention from . Shewale denied the allegations as fabricated and extortionate, asserting the woman had connections to underworld figures including and Pakistani elements, and demanded an NIA investigation into her motives. In January 2023, Shewale petitioned the to restrain the complainant from posting defamatory content on , which the court granted, prohibiting such statements. By June 2023, the same court vacated interim protection previously afforded to the woman regarding the allegations. In April 2024, the extended interim relief to the complainant amid ongoing proceedings, though no has been confirmed registered against Shewale, and no charges or conviction have resulted from the claims as of the latest reports. No other personal criminal allegations against Shewale have been substantiated in , with police inquiries into the complaint reportedly pending verification without progression to formal charges. Shewale has maintained the matter exemplifies attempts to malign him through unverified accusations, emphasizing the absence of validation.

Intra-party and media conflicts

Following the 2022 Shiv Sena split, Rahul Shewale, aligned with the faction, positioned himself as a key enforcer of in Parliament, issuing disqualification notices to four Shiv Sena (UBT MPs—, , , and —for defying a on the Women's Reservation Bill in September 2023. These MPs abstained from voting despite Shewale's directive as the recognized leader in the , reflecting efforts to align the party's parliamentary bloc with the NDA coalition's legislative priorities. Shewale also pursued legal action against , the Shiv Sena (UBT) mouthpiece, filing a complaint in December 2022 over articles alleging his ties to Pakistani entities and real estate interests, which he claimed were fabricated to malign his reputation. The complaint targeted and as responsible publishers, leading to their by a court in June 2023; both received bail in August 2023 but faced rejection of discharge pleas in October 2023 and September 2024, with Shewale demanding public apologies and retractions that were not forthcoming. In the broader split, the faction asserted its status as the authentic , bolstered by Maharashtra Assembly Speaker Rahul Narwekar's January 2024 ruling recognizing it as the true political party and the Commission's prior allocation of the party's name and bow-and-arrow symbol, citing numerical and adherence to the original over the UBT faction's claims. This validation, rooted in legislative and electoral processes, framed Shewale's actions as defenses of the recognized legacy against factional challenges, including media narratives from UBT-aligned outlets that courts have not dismissed as protected speech.

References

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