Shaina NC, a spokesperson for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), switched her allegiance to the Shiv Sena, led by Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, on Monday. This move came just hours after the BJP announced her candidacy for the upcoming assembly elections from the Mumbadevi constituency.
Shaina NC will contest the Mumbadevi seat in Mumbai, where she faces off against sitting Congress MLA Amin Patel. Her joining the Shiv Sena took place in Eknath Shinde‘s presence, marking a significant shift just weeks before the state elections. Along with Shaina NC, the Shiv Sena also released a list of 14 additional candidates for the Maharashtra assembly polls.
The Mumbadevi constituency is part of the Mumbai Lok Sabha seat and has been held by Congress’s Amin Patel since 2009. There were earlier speculations that the BJP would nominate Shaina NC from the Worli constituency, but the Shiv Sena chose to field Milind Deora from there as their Mahayuti candidate. The Worli seat will feature a high-stakes competition between Milind Deora and Aaditya Thackeray of the Shiv Sena (UBT).
Shaina NC, whose full name is Shaina Nana Chudasama, is an Indian fashion designer, politician, and social activist. She is the daughter of former Sheriff of Mumbai, Nana Chudasama, and has made a name for herself in the Indian fashion scene as the ‘Queen of Drapes.’ She gained this title by draping a saree in fifty-four different styles, as recognized by Prasar Bharati. Shaina also holds a Guinness World Record for the fastest saree drape.
Shaina NC began her political journey in 2004 when she joined the BJP. She served as the party’s national spokesperson, held a position on the national executive council, and was the treasurer of the BJP’s Maharashtra unit. She is well-known for her presence on television news channels, where she engages in discussions about current events, party policies, and social issues.
In addition to her political career, Shaina is active in social initiatives through charity fashion shows and two NGOs: ‘I Love Mumbai’ and ‘Giants Welfare Foundation.’ She holds a degree in political science from St. Xavier’s College in Mumbai and a diploma in fashion design from the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York.
