In a big blow to the Nationalist Congress Party (Sharadchandra Pawar), former group leader in the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) during its undivided phase (2017–22), Rakhee Jadhav, joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Monday afternoon. She is set to file her nomination from her home turf in Ghatkopar later on Monday.

Speaking to mid-day.com on November 11, when the BMC finalised its ward reservations through a lottery system, Jadhav—who had won the 2017 BMC Election from Ward 170—had said, “My electoral ward is reserved for women this year. I am certain I will contest and win the elections, as this is my home turf.”