Mumbai, June 16, 2025:-
Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray delivered a fiery call to action from the party’s historic headquarters in Dadar, urging Shiv Sainiks to defend Mumbai from what he described as a calculated takeover attempt by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and two influential businessmen. With the crucial Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections drawing near—set to be held after a gap of seven years—Thackeray framed the battle as not just political, but deeply emotional and cultural.
“Mumbai is our mother. Don’t let it be sold,” Thackeray said passionately to Shiv Sena office bearers during a high-level internal strategy session. He reminded his cadre that the city was won through the blood of 105 martyrs in the Samyukta Maharashtra movement, emphasizing that it cannot be handed over to those who seek to exploit it. In a clear reference to industrial heavyweights allegedly aligned with the BJP, he added, “These two businessmen and the BJP want to seize control of the BMC by wiping out me and my party. But I stand in their way.”
Reinforcing that his opposition was not against any community, Thackeray clarified, “I am not against Gujaratis. I oppose the two businessmen sitting in Delhi who are eyeing control over Mumbai.” He accused the ruling Mahayuti coalition of deploying money and power to lure leaders and manipulate elections, vowing instead to resist these moves head-on rather than compromise. “I’ve made my choice. I will fight them — not join them,” he said, drawing strong applause from the assembled party leaders.
The BMC, India’s richest civic body, has historically been a Shiv Sena stronghold. Thackeray positioned the upcoming polls as a battle to preserve not just political control but Marathi identity and Shiv Sena’s legacy in the city. He urged workers to ensure that the saffron flag of Shiv Sena rises again over the Mumbai skyline. “This is about our asmita (pride). Don’t let Mumbai slip out of Marathi hands,” he warned.
Laying out an aggressive ground strategy, Thackeray issued specific directives to galvanize the party’s grassroots machinery. Group heads were told to study voter lists thoroughly, polling agents were asked to connect with at least 300 homes, and sub-branch heads were tasked with overseeing outreach at the micro level. Integration of new and veteran leaders was also highlighted as a priority, with deputy division heads instructed to personally visit branches to ensure coordination and accountability.
He also took the opportunity to spotlight Shiv Sena’s performance when in power, citing tangible improvements in water supply, public health, education, cleanliness, and infrastructure. “We delivered. This traitor government only knows how to destroy,” Thackeray said, directly attacking the current BJP-led alliance.
Party workers who attended the closed-door session described the meeting as “electrifying” and said Thackeray’s words had reignited their resolve. A local Vibhag Pramukh said, “Uddhav saheb has given us the direction we needed. We will not let Mumbai fall into the hands of outsiders.”
As the countdown to the BMC elections begins, Uddhav Thackeray appears to be positioning Shiv Sena not just as a political force, but as the guardian of Mumbai’s identity. With an emotionally charged narrative and a detailed ground campaign, the battle for Mumbai’s soul is officially underway.
