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According to findings of the internal assessment, their possible alliance is unlikely to dent BJP’s prospects in Mumbai.
MNS chief Raj Thackeray and Uddhav Thackeray seen together in Mumbai.(X)
Amid the ongoing speculations over a possible tie-up between Uddhav Thackeray’s Shiv Sena (UBT) and Raj Thackeray-led MNS, an internal survey ahead of the upcoming Mumbai civic body elections suggested that the alliance between the Thackeray cousins is unlikely to affect the BJP’s poll prospects.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has begun preparations for the polls to the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation. In addition to this, the party is also preparing for other major civic body polls, including Pune and Thane, which are likely to be held later this year.
Cousins Uddhav Thackeray and Raj Thackeray have sparked speculation about a possible reconciliation with statements indicating they could ignore “trivial issues” and join hands nearly two decades after a bitter parting of ways.
While the MNS chief has said uniting in the interests of Marathi manoos (Marathi speaking people) is not difficult, Uddhav Thackeray said he was ready to put aside trivial fights, provided those working against Maharashtra’s interests were not entertained.
Notably, the MNS in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections supported BJP in Maharashtra, but six months later, both parties fought the state Assembly polls separately.
“In view of the political developments from the Thackeray cousins, the BJP undertook a detailed survey to evaluate the potential impact of a Uddhav-Raj alliance on Mumbai’s electoral landscape,” the BJP functionary was quoted as saying by news agency PTI.
According to findings of the internal assessment, their possible alliance is unlikely to dent BJP’s prospects in Mumbai.
BJP Retains Strong Position: Survey Indicates
The survey indicates that BJP retains a strong position in Mumbai owing to three key factors:
- The trust of its traditional voter base.
- Leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah.
- The party’s robust performance in the last state assembly elections.
“Even in areas with a traditional Marathi voter base, the BJP’s support remains stable. The survey suggests that an alliance between the Thackeray brothers would not adversely affect the party’s seat count,” the functionary said.
The assessment further indicates that after the split in the Shiv Sena in 2022, Uddhav Thackeray’s influence in Mumbai has waned, with nearly half of the party’s corporators having joined the Eknath Shinde faction. Raj Thackeray’s influence, meanwhile, is seen as limited, he said.
The BJP stands to gain if it contests 150 seats (out of total 227) in the BMC elections, the functionary said.
(With agency inputs)
The News Desk is a team of passionate editors and writers who break and analyse the most important events unfolding in India and abroad. From live updates to exclusive reports to in-depth explainers, the Desk d…Read More
The News Desk is a team of passionate editors and writers who break and analyse the most important events unfolding in India and abroad. From live updates to exclusive reports to in-depth explainers, the Desk d… Read More
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