Question mark over existence of ‘Brand Thackeray’

Mumbai: The devastating defeat in the much-hyped BEST Credit Society election has underlined the question mark on existence of ‘Brand Thackeray’ all the while sending out a loud and clear message that only sincere hard work at the ground level would enable an electoral victory in Mumbai.

The Shiv Sena(UBT) and Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) alliance, that was sending out messages of complete sweep on the day of counting, failed miserably and their ‘Utkarsh Panel’ couldn’t even secure a single seat in the credit society that the Shiv Sena (UBT) had almost single handedly controlled for almost a decade. On the other side, out of 21 seats, the panel led by labour leader Shashank Rao won 14 seats, and the Sahakar Samruddhi panel led by BJP legislators Prasad Lad and Nitesh Rane along with Shiv Sena’s Kiran Pawaskar could secure only seven. Since Rao had joined the BJP last year, technically the ruling Mahayuti alliance of the state has established complete control over an institution that the Shiv Sena had been controlling for decades.

Shiv Sena (UBT)’s Suhas Samant, under whose leadership Utkarsh Panel contested the election, accused the play of money-power for the defeat of his panel. However, Rao stated that the issue of gratuity for retired workers had become a key issue in this election and it was due to the quick action taken by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, his panel could win the elections. Rao also accused the Shiv Sena (UBT) leadership of indecision while controlling the credit society and rampant corruption while controlling the BEST society for over 25 years before that. “People had been seeing all these things helplessly for all these years. They vented out their anger,” Rao said.

The MNS was contesting these elections for the first time. They were solely dependent on Shiv Sena (UBT), who was confident of the magic of ‘Brand Thackeray’. Raj Thackeray is a great crowd puller. But, he fails in converting the crowds to votes. This has been established numerous times in various elections from local body to assembly. Today it was repeated even in a credit society election.

Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut tried to underplay the results stating that he doesn’t keep count of such small elections like that of a credit society.

Around 14,000 BEST employees voted in this election. The panel that had their distinct stamp could perform only to a certain extent.

It seems people rejected Thackeray brand: Fadnavis

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said Wednesday that the defeat of Shiv Sena (UBT) and MNS in the BEST Employees Cooperative Credit Society election suggests public rejection of the Thackeray brand.

He revealed that the two panels led by Shashank Rao and Prasad Lad that swept the election belonged to the BJP, and took potshots at the two parties led by the Thackeray cousins for politicising the contest. "I think there was no need to politicise this kind of election, as it was just a credit society poll. But they politicised it by making tall claims that the Thackeray brand will win. But it seems people did not like it. The poll outcome reflected rejection by the people," Fadnavis said.

He stressed that the Mahayuti didn't politicise the elections.