A man with a criminal record, including charges of murder and extortion, switched political parties three times in eight days to secure a ticket for the Maharashtra civic polls in Thane. Mayur Shinde, previously with Eknath Shinde's Shiv Sena, joined the BJP, then switched to Ajit Pawar's NCP to file his nomination on the final day. The Thane Municipal Corporation elections are set for January 15, with various parties forming alliances or contesting independently.