Mumbai, Nov 6 (PTI) The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has appointed minister Ganesh Naik as its election in-charge for Thane district, the home turf of Maharashtra deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, ahead of the upcoming local body polls.

Naik's appointment also comes months after he made several critical remarks against Shinde, who heads the Shiv Sena, a BJP ally.

The BJP, gearing up for the local self-government elections, announced the list of district-level election heads and in-charges across Maharashtra. Naik will oversee election preparations in Thane city, Thane rural, Kalyan, Ulhasnagar, Mira-Bhayandar, Bhiwandi and Navi Mumbai.

In Beed district, BJP MLA Suresh Dhas has been appointed as district election head, while minister Pankaja Munde has been made the election in-charge.

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