MUMBAI: In his first public address following the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections, Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray struck a defiant tone, saying the BJP “couldn’t finish off Shiv Sena on the ground” and “can’t buy loyalty despite employing all means.” Speaking to party workers in Mumbai, Thackeray said, “BJP wants to mortgage Mumbai, won polls by betrayal; Marathi manoos won’t forgive this sin.”
He added, “It’s our dream to get Shiv Sena (UBT) mayor elected; if God willing it will happen.” “There is a clear difference between the BJP and us. Shiv Sena may have been targeted on paper, but no one can erase it from the hearts of the people. Betrayers can be bought through money, pressure, agencies and tactics, but loyalty is never for sale. Our responsibility is now greater than ever,” he said. Earlier, Shiv Sena (UBT) issued its first reaction on social media following the results, declaring, “This battle is not over yet. It will continue just like this until the Marathi person receives the respect they deserve!” The BMC elections saw the MNS win just six seats. Despite this, the Sena (UBT)-MNS alliance performed strongly in parts of south and central Mumbai, considered the Marathi heartland, winning most of the 20-odd wards there.Read also: ‘Battle is not over’: Thackeray cousins 1st reaction on Mumbai BMC election result The Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena secured only two seats in these areas. The Thackeray cousins also won six of the seven seats in Worli, where Sena (UBT) faced rebel candidates in four wards. In contrast, the ruling Mahayuti alliance, strongly supported by the Gujarati community, won all seats in Mulund and seven of the 11 seats in Ghatkopar’s N ward. After almost three decades at the helm of India’s richest civic body, the Thackerays have lost control of the BMC to the Mahayuti alliance, led by the BJP and former Shiv Sena loyalist Eknath Shinde, who split from the party three-and-a-half years ago. Mahayuti crossed the halfway mark of 114 seats in the 227-member House, with BJP winning 89 and Shinde’s Sena 29, giving BJP a narrow lead. It will need Shinde Sena’s support for major decisions. The Uddhav-Raj Thackeray combine won 71 seats — 65 for Uddhav’s Sena and six for Raj Thackeray’s MNS — retaining significant influence in Mumbai’s Marathi heartland. However, the alliance performed poorly in neighbouring urban centres, including Thane and Navi Mumbai.
