In a significant political move, Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray and Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) president Raj Thackeray are set to embark on a whirlwind campaign blitz, addressing seven to eight joint rallies for the upcoming Municipal Corporation elections. This marks their first appearance together on the political rally stage in over two decades.
Campaign Blitz: Dates and Key Locations
The intensive campaign is scheduled to run from January 2 to January 13, strategically timed after the December 30 deadline for nomination withdrawals. According to Sena (UBT) functionaries, the joint rallies will be the centerpiece of their electoral strategy.
In Mumbai alone, at least three major rallies are planned to conclude the campaign on a high note. These include one rally in the city proper, one in the western suburbs, and another in the eastern suburbs. The campaign will extend beyond Mumbai to other crucial urban centers in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR) and Maharashtra, including Thane, Kalyan Dombivli, Nashik, and Navi Mumbai.
Seat-Sharing Formula and Alliance Dynamics
The rally plans proceed even as the final seat-sharing agreement between Shiv Sena (UBT) and MNS is being ironed out. The alliance was formally announced last Wednesday after numerous rounds of talks, family gatherings, and cultural exchanges.
Under the proposed formula, the Shiv Sena (UBT) is expected to contest 145 to 150 seats, while the MNS would get 65 to 70 seats. The Nationalist Congress Party (Sharadchandra Pawar) or NCP (SP) is likely to receive 10 to 12 seats. As part of the arrangement, Sena (UBT) has reportedly vacated 12 to 15 of its existing seats for the MNS, though in most of these, the sitting corporators have already defected to the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena or the BJP.
Emotional Pitch and Political Strategy
A senior Sena (UBT) functionary highlighted the emotional and strategic significance of the joint rallies. "The two cousins will share the stage and address rallies after 20 years. So far, they have addressed meetings and press conferences together, but not political rallies. So this will have a big impact," the functionary stated. The move is aimed at mobilizing the party cadre and intensifying the attack against the ruling Mahayuti alliance.
The Thackeray cousins are expected to strike an emotional chord with voters on the Marathi Manoos issue and jointly target their common political adversaries—the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Chief Minister Eknath Shinde's faction of the Shiv Sena.
During their alliance announcement press conference in Worli, both leaders emphasized unity for Maharashtra's sake. Uddhav Thackeray appealed to the Marathi community, warning that division could lead to their collective downfall. Echoing the sentiment, Raj Thackeray stated that Maharashtra's interests superseded any personal or political disputes, justifying their coming together.
While the alliance is sealed, the specifics of seat distribution and candidate lists remain undisclosed publicly, with Raj Thackeray indicating that candidates would be instructed directly to file nominations.
