Civic Polls: Uddhav Instructs Sainiks To Maintain Coordination With MNS At Local Level

Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray has instructed his Shiv Sainiks to maintain co-ordination with the Raj Thackeray-led Mahararashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) leaders at the local level with an eye on the forthcoming municipal and local civic body elections.

According to Shiv Sena sources, Uddhav Thackeray held a meeting of Sena office bearers of Badlapur, Kalyan West Bhiwandi and Ambernath at his Bandra East ‘Matoshree’ residence on Friday night, where he made important suggestions in view of the municipal elections.

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There was a serious discussion about an alliance with the Raj Thackeray-led MNS and Uddhav Thackeray told Shiv Sainiks to start preparing for the forthcoming municipal elections by hinting at an alliance.

“Make your full preparations by holding review meetings of both the parties. Forget your differences and get to work. Hold meetings with MNS office bearers at the local level. Discuss and maintain harmonious communication,” Uddhav Thackeray told Shiv Sena office bearers at the meeting.

Uddhav’s latest instructions to his Shiv Sainiks came after his statement on September 17 (Tuesday) that “a formal alliance with MNS chief Raj Thackeray will be announced soon and at the right time”.

However, MNS chief Raj Thackeray has not said anything about an alliance with the Uddhav-led Shiv Sena so far. Yet, when Uddhav Thackeray was holding a meeting with Shiv Sena office bearers from Badlapur, Kalyan West Bhiwandi and Ambernath at his Matoshree resident, his cousin and MNS chief Raj Thackeray toured far flung Mumbai suburbs like Ambernath, Badlapur and Kalyan.

Raj Thackeray’s visit is considered important in view of the forthcoming municipal elections. During his visit, Raj Thackeray visited the homes of MNS office bearers. After discussing local civic body election related issues, Raj also sought opinions of MNS office bearers about the forthcoming municipal elections.

According to an MNS leader speaking on condition of anonymity, “Uddhav’s push for an alliance with MNS follows his party’s decline. In 2017, Uddhav absorbed six of seven MNS corporators after the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) polls, weakening Raj Thackeray. Now, Uddhav needs Raj Thackeray’s urban Marathi speaking base. So Raj Thackeray calls the shots.

“Uddhav’s need for votes gives Raj leverage, especially after being ousted from the Shiv Sena in 2006. Raj remembers Uddhav Thackeray’s role in his exit from the Shiv Sena. So he negotiates from a position of strength, knowing that Uddhav’s party is weaker than before”.

Votes of Marathi speaking population account for 55 percent to 60 percent, in 50 wards of Mumbai. If the Thackeray group and MNS come together, it will be challenging for the BJP-led Mahayuti to win. On the other hand, if the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena decides to contest as part of the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA), an issue of how many seats would be given to the Congress would arise, sources said.

Significantly, this year’s budget of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) was Rs 75,000 crores, which is much more than the budget of many small states. Also, 36 MLAs and six MPs are elected from Mumbai. The Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena has been running the BMC for the last two and a half decades.

The Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena expanded across Maharashtra based on the strength of its power in the BMC. The political environment in Mumbai affects other municipalities in Greater Mumbai which includes Thane, Kalyan-Dombivli and Bhiwandi, which sends 10 percent of Maharashtra’s MLAs to the assembly.