Ahead of the Panvel Municipal Corporation elections, several leaders and office-bearers from the Shetkari Kamgar Party (Shekap) and the Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray faction) joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). The new entrants include former sarpanch Nandkumar Naik and Shiv Sena (UBT) subdivision chief Haresh Patil. The induction ceremony was attended by BJP leaders, who stated the move strengthens the party's position in Panvel and raises concerns for opposition parties.