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By:

Abhijit Mulye

21 August 2024 at 11:29:11 am

The Unequal Cousins

Raj Thackeray’s ‘sacrifice’ saved Shiv Sena (UBT) but sank the MNS Mumbai: In the volatile theatre of Maharashtra politics, the long-awaited reunion of the Thackeray cousins on the campaign trail was supposed to be the masterstroke that reclaimed Mumbai. The results of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections, however, tell a story of tragic asymmetry. While the alliance has successfully helped the Shiv Sena (UBT) stem the saffron tide and regain lost ground, it has left Raj...

The Unequal Cousins

Raj Thackeray’s ‘sacrifice’ saved Shiv Sena (UBT) but sank the MNS Mumbai: In the volatile theatre of Maharashtra politics, the long-awaited reunion of the Thackeray cousins on the campaign trail was supposed to be the masterstroke that reclaimed Mumbai. The results of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections, however, tell a story of tragic asymmetry. While the alliance has successfully helped the Shiv Sena (UBT) stem the saffron tide and regain lost ground, it has left Raj Thackeray’s Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) staring at an existential crisis. The final tally reveals a brutal reality for the MNS - Raj Thackeray played the role of the savior for his cousin, but in the process, he may have become the sole loser of the 2026 mandate. The worse part is that the Shiv Sena (UBT) is reluctant to accept this and is blaming Raj for the poor performance of his party leading to the defeat. A granular analysis of the ward-wise voting patterns exposes the fundamental flaw in this tactical alliance. The vote transfer, the holy grail of any coalition, operated strictly on a one-way street. Data suggests that the traditional MNS voter—often young, aggressive, and driven by regional pride—heeded Raj Thackeray’s call and transferred their votes to Shiv Sena (UBT) candidates in wards where the MNS did not contest. This consolidation was critical in helping the UBT hold its fortresses against the BJP's "Infra Man" juggernaut. However, the favor was not returned. In seats allocated to the MNS, the traditional Shiv Sena (UBT) voter appeared hesitant to back the "Engine" (MNS symbol). Whether due to lingering historical bitterness or a lack of instructions from the local UBT leadership, the "Torch" (UBT symbol) voters did not gravitate toward Raj’s candidates. The result? The UBT survived, while the MNS candidates were left stranded. ‘Second Fiddle’ Perhaps the most poignant aspect of this election was the shift in the personal dynamic between the Thackeray brothers. Decades ago, they parted ways over a bitter dispute regarding who would control the party helm. Raj, refusing to work under Uddhav, formed the MNS to chart his own path. Yet, in 2026, the wheel seems to have come full circle. By agreeing to contest a considerably lower number of seats and focusing his energy on the broader alliance narrative, Raj Thackeray tacitly accepted the role of "second fiddle." It was a pragmatic gamble to save the "Thackeray" brand from total erasure by the BJP-Shinde combine. While the brand survived, it is Uddhav who holds the equity, while Raj has been left with the debt. Charisma as a Charity Throughout the campaign, Raj Thackeray’s rallies were, as always, electric. His fiery oratory and charismatic presence drew massive crowds, a sharp contrast to the more somber tone of the UBT leadership. Ironically, this charisma served as a force multiplier not for his own party, but for his cousin’s. Raj acted as the star campaigner who energised the anti-BJP vote bank. He successfully articulated the anger against the "Delhi-centric" politics he accuses the BJP of fostering. But when the dust settled, the seats were won by UBT candidates who rode the wave Raj helped create. The MNS chief provided the wind for the sails, but the ship that docked in the BMC was captained by Uddhav. ‘Marathi Asmita’ Stung by the results and the realisation of the unequal exchange, Raj Thackeray took to social media shortly after the counting concluded. In an emotive post, he avoided blaming the alliance partner but instead pivoted back to his ideological roots. Urging his followers to "stick to the issue of Marathi Manoos and Marathi Asmita (pride)," Raj signaled a retreat to the core identity politics that birthed the MNS. It was a somber appeal, stripped of the bravado of the campaign, hinting at a leader who knows he must now rebuild from the rubble. The 2026 BMC election will be remembered as the moment Raj Thackeray proved he could be a kingmaker, even if it meant crowning the rival he once despised. He provided the timely help that allowed the Shiv Sena (UBT) to live to fight another day. But in the ruthless arithmetic of democracy, where moral victories count for little, the MNS stands isolated—a party that gave everything to the alliance and received nothing in return. Ironically, there are people within the UBT who still don’t want to accept this and on the contrary blame Raj Thackeray for dismal performance of the MNS, which they argue, derailed the UBT arithmetic. They state that had the MNS performed any better, the results would have been much better for the UBT.

Misplaced Shrine

Navi Mumbai

In Navi Mumbai, atop a hill overlooking the soon-to-be-operational Navi Mumbai International Airport, an unauthorized dargah poses an unexpected security risk. It stands, perched on CIDCO-acquired land, with a clear view of the airport’s main runway and the highway leading to the JNPT port. This dargah, which began as a single stone in 2011, has since expanded into a structure covering an acre, complete with a barricade, housing several rooms, and offering those inside a vantage point over critical infrastructure.


It is tempting to frame this controversy as a conflict of faith, but that misses the mark. The issue is not religious belief but public safety. Encroachments — religious or otherwise — around key infrastructure sites like airports are threats in any country, and India cannot afford a compromised approach. The stakes are higher in a nation that houses one of the world’s largest populations and maintains ambitions as a global hub. Allowing religious encroachments to proliferate near such critical areas, whether a Hindu temple or a Muslim dargah, sets a perilous precedent, one in which religious tolerance erodes public trust in civic governance.


For over a decade, authorities, despite multiple complaints, have hesitated to enforce regulations against the dargah, citing fears of backlash or administrative inertia. Yet, any hesitation that views encroachment as too sensitive to address only fuels further challenges. CIDCO served notices and Hindu groups alerted authorities to the risk. Yet, action remains elusive. National security cannot be the collateral of inaction, especially when strategic locations and the movement of millions lie in potential jeopardy.


Such challenges are not unique to airports. Across India, unauthorized religious structures have sprouted on railway land, highways, and even sensitive defence sites, using faith as a shield against regulations. The risks posed by unauthorized structures near airports are not theoretical. Airports, hubs of commerce, connectivity, and national security, must be safeguarded as neutral, secular spaces free from any form of encroachment.


Security implications aside, there is an unsettling trend of “land gifting” to religious boards, including the Waqf Board, which turns what was originally public land into a permanent religious property. This tendency is problematic not solely for one group but as a matter of unchecked encroachment and resource allocation. The concern is not which group occupies the hill today, but the message that unchecked growth of any unauthorized structure sends to future generations.


The country’s founding principles enshrined secularism to ensure that no creed or culture would surpass the collective interest. Encroachment on public land has no exemption in religious guise. Thus, the path forward must be decisive, removing unauthorized structures with the same impartiality as it would any other security risk. Indeed, progress cannot afford to be obstructed by misplaced shrines on strategic land — a message that both secular authorities and civic society must enforce with resolve. Only by doing so can India build cities and infrastructure that serve the public interest over narrow or sectarian ones.

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