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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.

Raj steals thunder; Uddhav repeats taunts

Pic: Bhushan Koyande
Pic: Bhushan Koyande

Mumbai: Sounding a loud alarm for Mumbai, the Maharashtra Vikas Aghadi (MVA) launched a blistering attack on the Bharatiya Janata Party and the Adani Group, alleging a systematic attempt to capture Mumbai’s assets and wealth, marginalize the Marathi population and weaken Maharashtra.

 

The Shiv Sena (UBT) President Uddhav Thackeray, Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray, Nationalist Congress Party (SP) leader Jayant R. Patil, besides Aditya Thackeray and other speakers made a desperate appeal to the voters to ‘choose wisely’ in the January 15 BMC elections.

 

Stealing the thunder, Raj said that last year’s compulsory Hindi push was a “test”, intended to check whether Maharashtra’s people were still alert. “That experiment proved why we needed to come together. No squabble is bigger than Maharashtra,” Raj said, referring to his reunion with Uddhav Thackeray after two decades.

 

Painting  a grim picture of present-day rulers and previous regimes, Raj said that despite Congress and other parties ruling for years, fear never dominated public life.

“Today, 66 corporators have been elected unopposed. People are being deprived of their right to vote, and this number will only rise,” he warned.

 

Both Raj and Uddhav slammed the BJP for increasingly giving tickets to criminals, drug peddlers and rape accused, eroding democracy at its roots.


Mumbai For Sale

Claiming that Mumbai is ‘up for sale’, Raj cited data collected by his research team to highlight the dramatic expansion of Gautam Adani’s business empire after 2014 – when Narendra Modi became Prime Minister.

 

Pointing to Maharashtra specifically, Raj claimed that Adani Group had just one unit here in 2014, which has since multiplied rapidly, listing multiple mega-projects in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region being handled by the Gautam Adani-led conglomerate.

 

He spoke of a long-term strategy to “break Mumbai away” from Maharashtra by dividing districts, voters and civic bodies, while bringing in outsiders at the cost of locals. “Marathis are being pushed into a minority in their own city - without homes, jobs or identity,” he warned.

 

Explaining the intense fight for civic bodies, Raj said control of local governments prevents the sale of land and public wealth without local consent, and called upon the voters to make the right choice.

 

Mewa-bhau

Terming it as a decisive final battle for Mumbai and MMR, Uddhav took a potshot at Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, calling him a “Mewa-bhau”. He accused the BJP of dividing Mumbai and the Marathi community while hollowing out the city’s institutions and finances.

 

“They say they want a ‘Hindu Marathi Mayor’. We said we will give a Marathi Mayor. The BJP is deliberately fragmenting Marathis by mixing religion into civic politics.

 

“We (Thackeray cousins) have come together only for Maharashtra, Mumbai and Marathis. These civic elections will decide our future. If we don’t act now, it will be too late,” he urged.

 

“We have fought many elections. We’ve won many, lost some. The BJP can ally with anyone all over India, but now they don’t want Shiv Sena,” he said.

 

Lashing out at the BJP for its repeated attacks on the ‘Thackeray brand’, Uddhav said sharply: “You question us, but you are nothing more than ‘band-masters’ of Modi.”

 

Both cousins vowed to move forward guided by Balasaheb Thackeray’s teachings, and dismissed the BJP’s claims of nationalism and concern for the poor as ‘fake Hindutva’, with Uddhav declaring: “I kick such patriotism.”

 

He even dared Fadnavis to have a public debate with him or Aditya Thackeray on Mumbai’s issues. “They ask what Shiv Sena did for Mumbai. Look around – and our work is visible in healthcare, education, infrastructure, water supply, sewerage,” he said.

 

The cousins attacked the BJP for emptying the coffers of Mumbai and Navi Mumbai, and diverting public attention from real civic issues to keep filling up Adani’s coffers.

 

Accusing the BJP of promoting criminals, goons, rapists and drug peddlers while fuelling caste and religious divisions, the duo said they ‘reject’ such politics, and exhorted  the people to decide as its final call for the future of Mumbai, Marathis and Maharashtra.

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