NEW DELHI: The last bastion of the Thackerays has been breached. The BJP-led Mahayuti has ended the Thackerays’ decades-long dominance in the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC). Even the “Brhamastra” of reuniting cousins Uddhav and Raj. They failed to maintain control over the money-rich citizenry. For Uddhav ThackerayThis was a life and death election campaign. After losing his government, his party, his symbol, it was important for Uddhav not to lose control of the BMC. Although Uddhav’s Shiv Sena UBT gave a strong fight, it was not enough in the end. On the other hand, Raj Thackeray‘s MNS, which had failed to make a significant impact on the elections in the state since its inception, failed again. As the results show, there were few supporters of Raj Thackeray’s extreme anti-Marathi aggression.
So where do the Thackerays go from here? Will the Thackeray cousins continue their alliance for future elections in the state? Or will Udhav go his own way again?After the 2019 general elections, Uddhav had parted ways with his long-time ally the BJP and joined hands with Sharad Pawar’s NCP and the NCP congress to form the MVA government in the state. However, his government could only last about two and a half years. A revolt in the party of Eknath Shinde saw Uddhav lose his government, his party and even the bow and arrow symbol.Uddhav’s decision to join the Congress was a bold political decision given his father Bal Thackeray’s very strong views against the venerable party. The BJP and the Shinde Sena have used Uddhav’s Congress association to not only corner him but also question his Hindutva commitment. Before the BMC electionsUddhav changed course again – this time choosing his estranged cousin Raj Thackeray over the Congress, which would determine success or failure in civic polls. The much-hyped reunion of the cousins was a topic of conversation in the civic elections. Together they raised the tone of the Marathi Manoos with aggression. In the end, however, it wasn’t enough for a win.What also worries Uddhav Thackeray is the encouraging performance of Shinde’s Shiv Sena. Eknath Shinde has made impressive strides since parting ways with Uddhav. He has proved election after election that his Shiv Sena enjoys greater acceptance in Maharashtra than the Uddhav Sena. With the BJP firmly behind him at present, Shinde is the biggest threat to Uddhav’s party and his future politics. Uddhav Thackeray has not only lost election campaigns but also the battle for the perception of being the real Shiv Sena. He desperately needs to win back the political space in Maharashtra that he lost to Shinde Sena in the last few years.While Uddhav’s party had made it clear that it will return to MVA in the assembly elections, it will be interesting to see the future course of action that Uddhav and his MVA allies actually take. The Congress has made it clear that it will not be part of any coalition with Raj Thackeray given the MNS chief’s tough stand against outsiders. The Congress, which participated in the civic polls without its MVA allies, would be hopeful, if not satisfied, with the results. The old party is unlikely to change its stance on Raj Thackeray. This means Uddhav will have to choose between the Congress and the MNS.
