As whispers of a political rapprochement between estranged cousins Uddhav Thackeray and Raj Thackeray gather steam ahead of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections, the BJP has made it abundantly clear: they’re not impressed. Narayan Rane, veteran BJP leader and Rajya Sabha MP, minced no words when he declared the alliance “politically insignificant” and unlikely to alter the city’s electoral balance.
This isn’t just posturing. It’s a strategic calculation based on a shifting political reality. The romanticism surrounding a ‘Thackeray thaw’ may tug at the nostalgic heartstrings of old-school Shiv Sainiks and Marathi manoos loyalists, but sentiment alone doesn’t win civic bodies—organization, resources, and voter trust do. And that’s where the alliance, if it materializes, may still falter.
A Reunion Decades in the Making
The very idea of Uddhav and Raj Thackeray joining hands is loaded with history. Once heirs to Balasaheb Thackeray’s legacy, the cousins charted different paths—Uddhav choosing a measured, coalition-driven politics, while Raj carved his own identity through the fiery, nativist plank of the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS). Now, political necessity has pushed them closer than ideology ever could.
After losing power in Maharashtra and watching his party splinter under the weight of Eknath Shinde’s rebellion, Uddhav Thackeray is rebuilding. Raj, despite his oratory and intermittent spurts of relevance, hasn’t managed to convert street support into electoral clout. The idea of “Thackerays united” is appealing, yes—but only as theatre. As a political strategy, it remains untested and potentially too little, too late.
BJP’s Growing Grip on Mumbai
Narayan Rane’s blunt dismissal of the alliance isn’t just rhetoric. It reflects BJP’s growing entrenchment in Mumbai’s civic machinery, its ability to rally resources, and its deeper penetration into non-Marathi voter bases, including Gujaratis, North Indians, and a younger demographic indifferent to identity politics. In the 2022 BMC elections, despite a fractured mandate, BJP emerged as the single largest party—this, even with the Shiv Sena still united at the time.
Moreover, the BJP today is not fighting a regional battle—it’s fighting with national ambition, armed with data, ground presence, and a well-oiled campaign machine. From leveraging social media to grassroots booth management, the party has matured into a civic juggernaut. Comparatively, the Sena factions are still recovering from internal turmoil and legal battles over the party name and symbol.
The Optics vs The Outcome
For many Maharashtrians, a united Thackeray front stirs emotion. But politics today is driven by narrative control and numbers, not nostalgia. The MNS has not won a single seat in the last BMC election, and Shiv Sena (UBT) has suffered both structural and symbolic losses. Even together, their combined strength may not be enough to outmaneuver the BJP, which now positions itself as both a local and national force with municipal efficiency as its calling card.
Still, the mere talk of Uddhav and Raj setting aside differences has added dramatic intrigue to the election season. It may help them consolidate some core vote banks and re-energize old loyalists. But unless this alliance comes with a clear, modern governance vision and a robust cadre-based operation, it will remain just that—talk.
In a city where civic issues like water scarcity, illegal construction, transportation bottlenecks, and waste management dominate the electorate’s concerns, the BJP’s confidence is rooted in delivery. Unless the Thackerays can offer an alternative that is not just emotionally resonant but operationally superior, their political reunion could remain a symbolic footnote in Mumbai’s fast-evolving civic landscape.
