Mumbai : In a major political upset ahead of the BMC elections, the Shashank Rao-led panel swept the 2025 BEST Employees’ Co-operative Credit Society elections, winning 14 out of 21 seats. The incumbent Mahayuti-backed Sahakar Samruddhi group managed only 7 seats, while the Utkarsh panel, jointly led by Uddhav and Raj Thackeray, failed to secure a single seat, ending their nine-year dominance.
Rao credited the victory to the trust and strong grassroots connect he and his team have built with BEST employees over the years, as well as the enduring legacy of his late father, trade unionist Sharad Rao. “This is a triumph for the workers who rejected the Sena (UBT)-led group due to their anti-worker stance,” he said.
Observers see the outcome as a significant political signal, suggesting a potential shift in Mumbai’s public-sector and local political landscape. The Thackeray brothers’ first joint effort in years fell flat, raising questions about their organizational reach and influence ahead of the BMC polls.
Suhas Samant, President of BEST Kamgar Sena (UBT), alleged that BJP’s financial and political influence played a decisive role, calling the contest “akin to a general election” in scale and intensity.
With over 15,000 employees eligible to vote, the election reflected broader trends in worker loyalty and local politics, positioning Rao’s panel as a dominant force while challenging the Thackeray alliance to reconnect with its traditional base.
