Thackerays lose control of BMC: What's next for Uddhav and his Sena

NEW DELHI: The last bastion of the Thackerays has been breached. The BJP-led Mahayuti has ended the decades-old dominance of the Thackerays in the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC).

Even the “Brhamastra” of reunion, of cousins Uddhav and Raj. failed to help them retain control of the cash-rich civic body. For Uddhav Thackeray, this was a do-or-die electoral battle. After losing his government, his party, his symbol, it was important for Uddhav not to lose control over the BMC. While Uddhav’s Shiv Sena UBT did put up a strong fight, in the end it was not enough. On the other hand, Raj Thackeray’s MNS, which has failed to make any significant electoral impact in the state since it was formed, failed yet again.

As the results show, there were few takers for Raj Thackeray’s extreme anti-Marathi aggression. So, where do the Thackerays go from here? Will the Thackeray cousins continue with their alliance for future elections in the state? Or will Uddhav chart his own path once again?After the assembly elections in 2019, Uddhav had parted ways with his long-time ally - the BJP and joined hands with Sharad Pawar’s NCP and the Congress to form the MVA government in the state. However, his government could last only for around two and a half years. A revolt in the party by

Eknath Shinde

saw Uddhav lose his government, party and even the bow and arrow symbol.

Uddhav’s decision to join hands with the Congress was a bold political decision given his father Bal Thackeray’s very strong views against the grand-old party. The BJP and the Shinde Sena have used Uddhav’s Congress association to not just corner him but also question his Hindutva commitment. Ahead of the

BMC elections

, Uddhav once again changed tracks - this time choosing his estranged cousin Raj Thackeray over the Congress for the make or break civic polls.

The much-hyped reunion of the cousins became the talking point during the civic elections. Together they raised the Marathi Manoos pitch with aggression. However, in the end it was not enough to secure them a victory.What is also a worry for Uddhav Thackeray is the encouraging performance of Shinde’s Shiv Sena. Eknath Shinde has made impressive gains since he broke ranks with Uddhav. He has proved, election after election, that his Shiv Sena has wider acceptance in Maharashtra compared to the Uddhav Sena.

With the BJP firmly behind him as of now, Shinde is the biggest threat to Uddhav’s party and his future politics. Uddhav Thackeray has not only lost electoral battles but also the perception battle of being the real Shiv Sena. He desperately needs to reclaim the political space in Maharashtra which he has lost to Shinde Sena in the last few years.While Uddhav’s party had made it clear that it will return to MVA fold for the assembly elections, it will be interesting to see the future course of action that Uddhav and his MVA allies actually take. The Congress has made it clear that it will not be part of any coalition that has Raj Thackeray, given the hard anti-outsider stand of the MNS chief. The Congress, which contested the civic polls without its MVA allies, would be hopeful, if not happy, with the results. It is unlikely that the grand-old party will change its stand vis-a-vis Raj Thackeray. Which means that Uddhav will have to decide between the Congress and the MNS.