Not formal tie-up yet but it is matter of survival for both sides; Election to BMC, the richest civil body in India, will be the real test of Thackerays
Speculation over a possible political realignment between Uddhav Thackeray’s Shiv Sena (UBT) and Raj Thackeray’s Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) is growing even though, as per Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Raut, there is no formal tie-up yet. But talking to media persons, Raut admitted to pressure and demand from supporters and cadres for the two estranged Thackeray cousins to come together for the upcoming elections to the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC).
“I have not said that Shiv Sena and MNS are contesting local body elections together. I said there is pressure and demand from the public that the two parties should contest together. People believe that if the rights of the ‘Marathi Maanos’ are to be protected, then Uddhav Thackeray and Raj Thackeray must come together,” Raut was quoted as saying.
Significantly, he also indicated that the Uddhav side may not contest the upcoming civic elections as part of the INDIA bloc, which includes parties like the Congress and the Sharad Pawar faction of the NCP.
Can Thakeray cousins unite
The success of the recent show of unity against the imposition of Hindi in Maharashtra schools, overall language on the whole, has given hope to both sides.
Last week, MNS supremo Raj Thackeray and cousin Uddhav Thackeray (Shiv Sena UBT) reunited after 20 years at a public rally in Worli, Mumbai, for an event called ‘Awaj Marathicha’—the Voice of the Marathi. The event was jointly organised by Shiv Sena (UBT) and MNS to mark the withdrawal of government resolutions related to the three-language policy in primary schools.
The Marathi issue has already become a major political issue in the state, giving jitters to both the ruling BJP-Shiv Sena-NCP Mahayuti as also Uddhav’s supporters in opposition.
Interestingly Maharashtra transport minister Pratap Sarnaik criticised his own government over the denial of permission for a Marathi rally on Mira Road and tried to join the protest, but was forcefully driven away by Thackeray loyalists, calling him a “traitor”. The Shiv Sena (Shinde) minister had broken ranks with his government to reach the protest site.
In November 2019, undivided Shiv Sena, undivided NCP, and Congress formed the government under a new alliance Maha Vikas Aghadi with Uddhav as the Chief Minister.
In June 2022, Uddhav resigned after a faction of MLAs led by Shinde split from Shiv Sena and allied with the BJP.
Shinde was sworn in as Chief Minister and Devendra Fadnavis as the deputy Chief minister. Later Ajit Pawar-led NCP MLAs also broke away and joined the ruling coalition.
While all local bodies are important, the elections to BMC will be the real test of Thackerays grassroots support. BMC is the richest civic body in India with a budget surpassing many small Indian states.
