How A Resurgent Raj Thackeray Helped Uddhav Save Face In Maharashtra

Last Updated:November 25, 2024, 11:22 IST

Political analysts suggest that without the MNS fielding candidates in critical constituencies, Uddhav Thackeray’s Shiv Sena (UBT) would have been limited to just 10 seats, with most of the remaining seats going to Eknath Shinde’s Shiv Sena

Raj Thackeray’s MNS is said to have played a decisive role in eight critical constituencies, including high-profile ones like Worli, Mahim, and Bandra East, where Shiv Sena (UBT) won. (PTI)

The results of the Maharashtra assembly elections showcased a massive victory for the Mahayuti alliance, reminiscent of the 2014 Modi wave. The opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) was decimated, with Uddhav Thackeray’s Shiv Sena (UBT) securing only 20 seats. A surprising factor in the polls, however, was the role of Raj Thackeray’s Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) in indirectly aiding his cousin Uddhav Thackeray’s party.

Political analysts suggest that without the MNS fielding candidates in critical constituencies, Uddhav Thackeray’s Shiv Sena (UBT) would have been limited to just 10 seats, with most of the remaining seats going to Eknath Shinde’s Shiv Sena faction. The MNS is said to have played a decisive role in eight of these constituencies, including high-profile ones like Worli, Mahim, and Bandra East.

In Mahim, MNS candidate Amit Thackeray secured 33,062 votes, splitting the anti-incumbency vote and enabling Uddhav Thackeray’s candidate Mahesh Sawant to win by a narrow margin of 1,316 votes against Shinde faction’s Sada Sarvankar. Similarly, in Worli, where Aaditya Thackeray contested, MNS candidate Sandeep Deshpande garnered 19,367 votes. This vote split ensured Aaditya’s victory with a margin of 8,801 votes over Shinde’s candidate Milind Deora.

Other critical constituencies where the MNS influenced outcomes include Vikhroli, Jogeshwari East, and Kalina, where the vote share of MNS candidates proved decisive. In Jogeshwari East, the MNS garnered 64,239 votes, helping Uddhav’s faction secure the seat with a slim margin of 1,541 votes.

The scenario was similar in Dindoshi, Versova, and Guhagar, where MNS candidates drew enough votes to neutralise the advantage of Shinde’s Shiv Sena. For instance, in Guhagar, Uddhav Thackeray’s candidate won by 2,830 votes, with the MNS polling 6,712 votes, preventing a Shinde victory.

The MNS’s strategic fielding of candidates in Mumbai and other key areas indirectly benefited Uddhav’s faction, helping it retain its urban stronghold. Seats like Worli, Mahim, and Bandra East were particularly critical for this outcome.

For Eknath Shinde’s faction, the MNS’s performance came as a setback. Analysts estimate that Shinde’s Shiv Sena could have gained 10 additional seats had the MNS not fielded candidates in these constituencies. The vote division allowed Uddhav’s faction to secure crucial victories, leaving Shinde with fewer seats than anticipated.

Though the MNS failed to win a single seat, the party’s performance has become a talking point in Maharashtra’s political circles. Raj Thackeray’s indirect influence on the election outcomes highlights his potential to sway the state’s political landscape. The MNS’s role in splitting votes has opened up possibilities for new alliances and strategies in future elections. In the aftermath of these results, Raj Thackeray’s MNS may emerge as a significant player in Maharashtra’s political scene, capable of altering equations and forming new power dynamics.

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