Mumbai: Following the Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray)’s crushing defeat in last week’s assembly elections, discontent is brewing within the party over its alliance with the Congress.
Shiv Sena (UBT)’s Nashik district functionaries held a meeting Wednesday to discuss the possibility of contesting the upcoming municipal corporation elections independently. During the internal meeting with district-level leaders, there was widespread dissatisfaction over the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) alliance’s lack of cohesion, which they believe cost Sena (UBT) crucial seats in Nashik—a region the undivided Shiv Sena once considered its stronghold.
The Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA), comprising Shiv Sena (UBT), Congress, and the Sharad Pawar-led NCP, delivered a dismal performance in the election. Shiv Sena (UBT) secured just 20 seats, Congress managed 16, and the NCP only 10. This outcome is stark in the context of Maharashtra’s 288-member assembly. There are 288 MLAs in the Maharashtra assembly.
Speaking to the media after the meeting, Vilas Shinde, group leader from Nashik district, said, “In our meeting, the functionaries expressed that the MVA alliance partners did not work as expected. And so, we are demanding at our level that we should fight the upcoming elections by ourselves and go solo so that our strength is realised and Shiv Sainiks who are loyal to the party will get justice.”
However, Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut, while speaking to reporters in Delhi Thursday, said that such calls are not to be taken seriously.
“Wherever there is defeat, at local levels, functionaries do make such demands of going solo. Because they think by doing so, we can get success. But we have to also remember that in Lok Sabha elections, being a part of MVA has clearly helped all of us including alliance partners. Yes, at assembly level, the results were unexpected. So, all three partners will have to sit and find a solution for this unitedly.”
The Congress, with whom Shiv Sena (UBT) had the most differences during seat sharing, also denied any such rifts.
“Such calls might have been taken at local levels but this is not the stand of Shiv sena leaders. And it is important to think and introspect what happened at the elections rather than thinking about going solo,” said a Congress leader on condition of anonymity.
Although this is not an official stance of Shiv Sena (UBT), political analyst Pratap Asbe noted while these sentiments are expressed after a defeat, they do not necessarily reflect the party’s course of action.
“Congress and Sena’s bickering was out in the open. And hence such opinions at local levels are not a surprise. But this won’t be the official stand. At least now they are together. But then when the elections to corporations and local bodies are announced, Uddhav Thackeray will have to take that call of going solo or as MVA,” Asbe said.
Speaking to ThePrint, Congress spokesperson Atul Londhe said, “If at all there has to be any discussion on this, it needs to be done on higher level. Voices demanding to go solo might be down below, however, there is no discussion over this among leaders in all three parties.”
In the past, too, the Sena (UBT) has discussed the possibility of contesting local body elections independently. With the BMC polls pending and anticipation around local body elections, the Pune unit of Shiv Sena (UBT) has also reportedly expressed the desire to go solo in the upcoming Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) elections.
In 2017, the BJP made significant inroads in the PMC, securing power for the first time, despite it being an NCP stronghold traditionally. That year, the undivided Shiv Sena won 12 wards in the 152-member civic body.
‘Chances of success will improve’
In 2019, following the assembly elections, the undivided Shiv Sena ended its 25-year alliance with the BJP and formed the Maharashtra Vikas Aghadi (MVA) coalition with Congress and the undivided NCP. Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray became the Chief Minister.
In 2022, the Shiv Sena split, and in 2023, the NCP also fractured.
Despite the split within their respective parties, the MVA coalition—comprising Congress, NCP led by Sharad Pawar, and Shiv Sena (UBT)—remained united and contested the Lok Sabha elections with notable success.
However, during the assembly elections, seat-sharing negotiations became tense, with both Congress and Shiv Sena (UBT) unable to reach a final agreement until the last moment. The rift between Congress leader Nana Patole and Shiv Sena (UBT)’s Sanjay Raut came to the forefront, with both parties vying for the same seats, particularly in Mumbai and Vidarbha, creating a perception of discord,
On Wednesday, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader from Nashik, Vilas Shinde, criticised the alliance partners, stating that they were demanding seats in areas where Shiv Sena has a stronghold. This, he said, undermines the party’s local functionaries and workers, creating tension at the grassroots level.
“It happens that in the MVA, alliance partners demand seats in areas where we are strong, while we, at the grassroots level, work hard and stay loyal to the party. Even after the split, we have remained committed and continue to work diligently. However, in areas where we have significant strength, if we contest elections independently, our chances of success will improve,” he said.
The MLAs of the Shiv Sena (UBT) who met Uddhav Thackeray Wednesday did not explicitly demand breaking their alliance with the Congress and going solo, and reposed faith in whatever decision Thackeray decides to make.
“Nobody spoke about going solo. Nothing like this happened,” said an MLA on condition of anonymity
Another Sena (UBT) MLA, Ajay Choudhari, told ThePrint, “We have given all rights to Uddhav Thackeray. Whatever decision he takes, we will abide by it. None of the elected MLAs spoke about going solo,” said Chaudhary.
Maharashtra assembly election results were declared on 23 November. The Mahayuti alliance won 230 seats, while the MVA won 46.
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