What next for Uddhav Thackeray after Maharashtra setback?

Uddhav Thackeray’s Shiv Sena (UBT) suffered a crushing defeat all through the Maharashtra Assembly polls, winning just 20 of Ninety four contested seats when put next with Eknath Shinde’s faction, which secured fifty seven of 85. The implications have raised questions on Thackeray’s ability to retain his party’s cadre and his claim to Bal Thackeray’s legacy

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The Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) factor contested from Ninety four seats, two of which have been a friendly contest with the Peasants and Workers Party of India in Panvel and Uran constituencies. X/OfficeofUT

The new Maharashtra assembly elections have placed Uddhav Thackeray and his Shiv Sena (UBT) faction at a crossroads.

Thackeray now faces the daunting challenge, to carry forward the legacy of his father, Bal Thackeray and reassert his political relevance after his faction’s dismal performance.

The Shiv Sena (UBT), under Thackeray’s leadership, managed to win best 20 out of the Ninety four seats it contested all through the Maharashtra assembly elections. In stark contrast, the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena emerged stronger, securing fifty seven out of the 85 seats it contested. This marked a decisive victory inside theongoing battle between both factions over which represents the “real Shiv Sena.”

For Uddhav, the electoral defeat is a continuation of setbacks for the explanation that 2022 split within Shiv Sena, which saw Shinde walk away with the overwhelming majority of party legislators. These elections served as a litmus test for both factions, and the outcomes have further eroded Thackeray’s claim to his father’s political legacy and beliefs.

Thackeray questioned how the electorate, which rejected the BJP-led alliance all through the Lok Sabha elections just 5 months ago, now toughen them all through the assembly polls.

A silver lining for UBT

In spite of the poor overall performance, Thackeray’s faction maintained its dominance in Mumbai, winning 10 out of its 20 total seats. In as a minimum eight constituencies, the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) played a pivotal role all through the UBT faction’s victories by splitting votes which may have long past to Shinde’s Shiv Sena.

Raj Thackeray’s MNS, though failing to win any seats, significantly influenced the outcomes of key constituencies by splitting votes.

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In Mumbai alone, the MNS vote share played a decisive role in securing victories for the UBT in tightly contested seats like Versova, Vandre East, and Kalina. Nevertheless, this reliance on external factors further highlights the diminishing standalone strength of Thackeray’s faction.

The BJP, meanwhile, demonstrated its dominance by winning 132 out of 149 seats, with the Shinde Sena and Ajit Pawar’s NCP securing fifty seven and forty one seats respectively.

What next for Uddhav Thackeray?

One of Thackeray’s immediate challenges is to steer clear of further defections from his faction. The election results have bolstered the Shinde faction’s claim to being the legitimate heirs of the Shiv Sena legacy, making it more challenging for him to keep up loyalty among party leaders and grassroots workers.

In spite of his acclaimed dealing with of the COVID-19 pandemic at some point of his tenure as chief minister, Uddhav’s decision to ally with ideological rivals — the Congress and the NCP — has alienated a element of his traditional voter base. Eknath Shinde and his supporters have accused Uddhav of betraying Bal Thackeray’s principles for political expediency.

To regain relevance, Uddhav should reconnect in conjunction with his core voter base and consolidate his position all through the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) alliance, which also suffered all through the elections. The Congress won best sixteen seats, and Sharad Pawar’s NCP faction managed a mere 10.

With the MVA securing seats way short of the bulk, Uddhav faces an uphill battle to remain a key player in Maharashtra politics. Whether he can rebuild his party and reclaim his father’s legacy remains to be to be seen.

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With inputs from agencies