Those who may suffer the most from coming together with Raj Thackeray and Uddhav
NEW DELHI – Raj Thackeray had left Shiv Sena in 2005. After nearly 20 years, Raj Thackeray shared the stage with Uddhav Thackeray in a rally in Mumbai on July 5. Raj Thackeray while addressing the rally said that what Balasaheb could not do, Devendra Fadnavis did it.
Raj Thackeray said that Chief Minister Fadnavis’s policies brought him at odds with the BJP. When Raj Thackeray rebelled against Shiv Sena, Bal Thackeray was 80 years old. Raj Thackeray formed Maharashtra Navnirman Sena in 2006 and Bal Thackeray died in 2012.
What has actually happened?
That is, about 13 years after the death of Bal Thackeray, Raj Thackeray has decided to come with his family. While addressing the rally, Uddhav Thackeray said- We have come together and will stay together. Together we will take on MCD and then on Maharaj.
In the 2009 Maharaaj Vidhan Sabha elections, Raj Thackeray’s Maharaaj Navnirman Sena contested for the first time and won 13 seats. Its vote share was about six percent.
In the 2014 and 2019 Maharashtra Assembly elections, MNS won one seat each, while in the 2024 Maharashtra Assembly elections, MNS came down to zero. Even Raj Thackeray’s son Mittal Thackeray could get only 31, 611 votes in Mahim Assembly seat and remained at third place.
MNS Election History
Raj Thackeray’s party Maharastra Navnirman Sena had fielded 128 candidates in the 2024 assembly elections across Maharashtra and none of them won. On the other hand, Uddhav Thackeray’s Shiv Sena also fielded candidates on 95 seats and won only 20 seats. Uddhav Thackeray was in alliance with Congress and NCP.
After the demise of Bal Thackeray, BJP and Shiv Sena were united in Maharashtra and Uchchhu faced such a challenge that the legacy of Bal Thackeray slipped out of his hands. For example, he had to give up both the party’s name and the election symbol, the bow and arrow.
What Inpact
Raj Thackeray was already marginalized in electoral politics but Uchchav’s hold was also getting weak. In such a situation, will the coming together of the two brothers revive the fight for Marathi unity in Maharashtra?