MUMBAI: Shiv Sena (UBT)-MNS combine had pitched the BMC polls as an attempt to save the Marathi manoos and Mumbai. It was also seen as an acid test for the Thackeray brand as Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray and MNS chief Raj Thackeray came together after 20 years. However, while a number of Marathis seemed to have backed the Thackerays, the brand failed to shine enough to propel them to retain BMC.The ‘save Marathis’ narrative seemed to have had a limited impact. The Thackerays only managed to retain their bastions in south and central Mumbai and some areas in the western and eastern suburbs, like Dadar-Mahim, Worli, Dindoshi, Bhandup, Vikhroli and Bandra East, but they could not dent BJP’s prospects in Colaba, Bandra West, Andheri West, Borivli and Dahisar. Political observers said many upscale Maharashtrians chose BJP, especially in the western suburbs. They said while Sena (UBT) underperformed, MNS tanked completely, ending up with single digits and dragging the Thackeray tally.
In Sept, Uddhav himself had made it clear that the BMC polls would be an acid test. Sena (UBT) contested from 163 seats in Mumbai and MNS from 53. BJP fought from 137 seats and Shinde’s Sena from 90 seats. While Muslims backed Sena (UBT)—two of the party’s candidates from the community won—the support was nowhere close to the one offered in the 2024 Lok Sabha and assembly polls as Congress parted ways this time. “The Lok Sabha and the assembly elections already gave us an indication as to which Sena has clout in Mumbai. But the BMC polls were much fiercer and were in a sense set to determine which is the real Sena. The Thackerays were fighting together this time. So, it was a real test of the Thackeray brand, too. Every seat was keenly contested. However, it seems that while people took note of the Thackerays coming together for the Marathi manoos narrative, it wasn’t enough. This is in many ways the final battle of the two Senas, which was to decide not only the future direction of the city’s politics but also the fate of the two cousins, Uddhav and Raj. While it seems to be the end of the road for Raj, Uddhav is likely to keep his flock together and play the role of a principal opposition in Mumbai,” an observer said.
