Mumbai: IRS officer Sameer Wankhede is set to make his political debut by contesting in the upcoming assembly elections in Maharashtra. Sources suggested that Wankhede would join Shiv Sena faction led by Eknath Shinde and would contest under Mahayuti alliance, which includes Shiv Sena (Shinde faction), Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), and Ajit Pawar’s Nationalist Congress Party (NCP).
Sameer Wankhede is expected to run for an assembly seat in Mumbai, with strong indications that it will be from Dharavi constituency. Dharavi is a significant political battleground, previously held by Congress leader Varsha Gaikwad, who became an MP in 2024 elections.
Wankhede may resign as IRS officer
Congress is reportedly considering fielding another member of Gaikwad’s family for the seat. In the 2019 assembly elections, Shiv Sena candidate Ashish Vasant More contested from Dharavi but was defeated by Varsha Gaikwad. Mahayuti alliance now aims to make Dharavi seat a key contest in the upcoming elections, with Sameer Wankhede as their potential candidate.
Wankhede’s discussions with Eknath Shinde’s faction have reportedly been finalised, and he is expected to resign from his IRS position soon to join Shiv Sena. His candidacy in Dharavi could add significant weight to Mahayuti’s efforts in Mumbai.
Sameer Wankhede gained widespread attention during his time in Mumbai Narcotics Department, where he handled several high-profile cases, including the drug investigations involving actress Rhea Chakraborty and Aryan Khan, son of actor Shah Rukh Khan. His work led to the seizure of around 17,000 kilograms of drugs during his career, setting a record.
Sameer Wankhede’s background
However, Wankhede also faced controversies. In 2023, he was suspended from his position, and in early 2024, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) filed a case against him. Despite these challenges, a court stayed his arrest in April 2024.
Wankhede, a 2008 batch IRS officer, was born and raised in Mumbai, Maharashtra, where he also completed his education. His last major assignment was as the zonal chief of the Narcotics Department, a role in which he tackled several high-stakes investigations, including the Sushant Singh Rajput drug case.
