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...

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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.

Shree Mavli Mandal: Celebrating 100 years of sports commitment

Dev Khelkar
Apr 24, 2025
3 min read

Mumbai: “We believe in igniting the spark of champions…” The line instantly catches your attention while going through the profile of the Shree Mavli Mandal Trust from Thane on social media.

The motto ‘we believe in igniting the spark of champions’ means an organisation believes in fostering the potential for greatness within individuals, helping them reach their full potential and achieve exceptional results. It suggests a commitment to nurturing talent, encouraging ambition, and empowering individuals to become the best versions of themselves.

Shree Mavli Mandal has been living this motto for the last 100 years. Established on August 1, 1925, the organisation, which is a charitable trust, has left an indelible mark on Thane’s sporting world. It has a strong emphasis on sports, offering programmes and facilities to support students’ athletic development. They promote various sports including Kho-Kho, Gymnastics, Football, Athletics, Bodybuilding and Kabaddi.

The founder members Shakarrao Yadav and Shankarrao Bhoir, who were extreme sport lovers, dreamt to serve the society by starting a well-equipped sports centre in the city. Initially launched as ‘Mavli Mela,’ the organisation took an initiative to bring together children and youths of Thane city by conducting various sporting activities that included local games like Hututu, Atyapatya, Viti-Dandu, and Lagori for their overall personality development. Inspired by these founder members, Sudhir Yadav joined the organisation and carried forward their legacy with the same zeal and enthusiasm.

In 1952, the organisation was registered as a charitable trust under the name ‘Shree Mavli Mandal.’ Since then, it has played a pivotal role in developing a sports culture in the Thane city. Today, it is a leading organisation with a modern well equipped gymnasium and an enviable 50,000 sq. feet ground for sports and allied activities. While its high school emphasises on sports, it also has a sports academy which helps students to excel in sports and other extra-curricular activities of their liking.

Mavli Mandal also organizes events like Sports Day, competitions and summer camps with sports-related activities. It provides coaching and training in several sports, including Kho-Kho, Gymnastics, Football, and Kabaddi. They celebrate Sports Day, highlighting the efforts and achievements of their students in various sports. The high school organizes a summer camp with sports-related activities, such as games and fun activities that promote teamwork. These facilities have propelled several students to shine and achieve state and national-level accolades.

However, it is its state-level Kabaddi tournament, which Mavli Mandal is most known for in the state’s sports circles. Considered as one of the major events in the state kabaddi calendar, the tournament has been running for 71 consecutive years, making it perhaps the only organisation in Maharashtra (or in the country) to hold a Kabaddi tournament for such a long time. Every Kabaddi player in Maharashtra aspires to play in this tournament. Many well-known men’s and women’s teams from Maharashtra as well as renowned Kabaddi players have participated in this tournament. In addition to this, Mavli Mandal has also been holding bodybuilding tournament and inter-school athletics competitions for the past 33 and 24 years respectively.

Buoyed by the support and encouragement of their alma mater, several athletes of Mavli Mandal have excelled in the sports of Kabaddi, Bodybuilding, Kho-kho and Athletics by winning many prestigious competitions. Players like Narayan Shinde, Lingappa Gawda, Milind Yadav, Rajesh Bhillare, Sagar Shinde (Kabaddi), Atharva Parab, Swati More, Dipti Vaidya, Mahesh Kokare, Darshan Devrukhkar, (Athletics), Pradeep Naik, Santosh Chinchavade, Koutsubh Chavan (Bodybuilding), Shubham Jadhav, Tanishk Fate (Kho-Kho) have made their mark in their sports.

If you visit the office of Shree Mavli Mandal Trust in Thane, you will find trophies and medals galore adorning several cupboards. It is a testimony to our commitment towards sports, said Sudhakar More, the president of the organisation. As a part of our centenary year resolutions, we have planned to lay a synthetic track and improve the drainage system of the playground, he added.

On the occasion of its centenary year, Mavli Mandal has decided to hold its state-level Kabaddi tournament, which will kickstart from April 25, in a grand manner by inviting 100 teams to participate. The organisation has also planned to felicitate veteran former Kabaddi players, including Arjun and Shiv Chhatrapati awardees, on this occasion. The tournament will have a total prize money of Rs 5,00,000.

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