Pune, Dec. 23 -- In a major setback to the Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray faction) ahead of the Pune Municipal Corporation elections, former corporators Prithviraj Sutar, Sanjay Bhosale and Ashwini Bhosale joined the Bharatiya Janata Party on Tuesday.

Union Minister of State Murlidhar Mohol welcomed the leaders into the BJP, stating that the party stands firmly for Hindutva ideology while working towards Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision of a Developed India and Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis' resolve for a Developed Maharashtra.

Mohol said the BJP's "triple-engine government" at the Centre, state and civic level has strengthened public trust through development works and governance. He added that Pune is witnessing rapid g...