Mumbai: For Uddhav Thackeray and his social gathering Shiv Sena (UBT), which confronted its worst defeat within the 2024 Maharashtra elections—successful solely 20 of 288 seats—the Brihanmumbai Municipal Company (BMC) polls had been a litmus take a look at, because the undivided Shiv Sena had held energy within the company for 25 straight years.

Hoping to consolidate Marathi voters within the metropolis, Uddhav joined arms along with his as soon as estranged cousin Raj Thackeray and his Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS). Because the outcomes of Thursday’s BMC polls got here out Friday, it was clear that the alliance didn’t yield a lot. Shiv Sena (UBT) secured 65 seats, whereas the MNS gained six, falling far behind the bulk mark within the 227-member company.

“With Congress as effectively, our opposition is powerful within the BMC. And there’s no query of leaving the MNS alliance now,” he added.

Raj Thackeray took to his social media web page and wrote, “…We couldn’t get the success that we had hoped for, however that ought to not disappoint us. Our battle is for the Marathi manoos—our language, tradition, and Maharashtra. That is our satisfaction and existence, and we all know such battles go a great distance…”

Political analyst Abhay Deshpande instructed ThePrint that the outcomes had been anticipated and that Marathi consolidation had occurred, maybe greater than anticipated. Nonetheless, Uddhav Thackeray additionally managed to draw anti-BJP, non-Marathi votes—one thing Raj Thackeray did not do.

He mentioned, “As a result of Uddhav obtained Marathi plus non-Marathi votes, which was not the case with MNS, his strike charge was higher than Raj Thackeray.”

This underscores that amid Mumbai’s altering demographics, the Thackerays can’t rely solely on the ‘Marathi manoos’.

“So Marathi sentiment is there, undoubtedly—you can not keep away from that. However solely Marathi sentiment will not be sufficient to take you to energy,” mentioned Deshpande. “They must broaden their enviornment, or else it will likely be unimaginable to cross the midway mark. And the one means to take action is to return to the unique Uddhav Thackeray marketing campaign—Me Mumbaikar.”

Marathi vote consolidation in areas equivalent to Dadar, Mahim, Vikhroli, Sewri, and Worli gave the Thackerays a much-needed push. Nonetheless, Muslim-dominated areas—equivalent to Govandi, Byculla, Kurla, Mankhurd, Jogeshwari, Malad, and Mumbadevi—noticed vote fragmentation, not like the Lok Sabha and meeting polls, which had been largely in favour of Uddhav.

One of many key causes for this was the presence of Raj Thackeray within the alliance and the absence of the Congress.

This time, Muslims additionally voted for events equivalent to AIMIM, which carried out higher than the MNS, successful eight seats in Mumbai.

Deshpande mentioned that even when Muslims do help Uddhav—as seen in some seats that Shiv Sena (UBT) gained—with Raj Thackeray round, they might seemingly scout for an additional choice.

Nonetheless, the alliance seems to have labored fairly effectively for a weakened Shiv Sena (UBT). In 2017, the undivided Shiv Sena had gained 84 seats. Regardless of a big part of its former corporators defecting, Shiv Sena (UBT) managed a decent tally this time.

Whereas Uddhav Thackeray has repeatedly mentioned that the cousins have come collectively to remain collectively, Raj Thackeray has thus far averted giving the same assurance. For Uddhav, the choice of becoming a member of arms with the Congress post-poll stays open, however the latter is unlikely to just accept Raj as a part of any such alliance.

For Uddhav’s social gathering—which had been shedding corporators to Eknath Shinde’s Shiv Sena even earlier than the elections—preserving his flock collectively will likely be essential.

The BMC ballot outcomes present that the Thackerays nonetheless retain important management over Mumbai, a metropolis as soon as thought of on the “beck and name” of Shiv Sena founder Bal Thackeray. On the similar time, the end result highlights the necessity to look past the Marathi manoos.

Because the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) broke up and Uddhav determined to ally with Raj whereas parting methods with the Congress, the Congress has tied up with the Vanchit Bahujan Aaghadi (VBA), additional denting opposition votes.

“If Congress had been with Uddhav Thackeray, it could have been advantageous. If all three—together with the MNS—had come collectively, it could have been a potent mixture. However leaving Congress for MNS was a blunder for Shiv Sena (UBT),” Deshpande mentioned.

Within the coming days, “preserving his flock collectively will likely be a problem for Uddhav Thackeray. Protecting the Marathi alliance intact and increasing his political enviornment will likely be equally tough,” Deshpande added. “Although he fought a very good battle in Mumbai, he has been worn out in the remainder of Maharashtra.”

(Edited by Nida Fatima Siddiqui)

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