Shiv Sena Factions Face Major Setback in Marathwada Civic Polls
Both factions of the Shiv Sena suffered significant defeats in the recent municipal corporation elections across Maharashtra's Marathwada region. The Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena and the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT) failed to make a substantial impact in most urban local body contests.
Poor Performance in Key Corporations
In the Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar Municipal Corporation election, the undivided Shiv Sena had previously emerged as the single largest party. This time, disagreements over seat-sharing forced the Shinde-led faction to contest independently against the BJP directly. This strategy backfired dramatically. The party managed to secure only 13 out of 115 available seats.
The Thackeray-led Sena (UBT) faced even greater challenges. Unable to form effective alliances, they won just six seats in the same corporation. The situation appeared equally grim in Nanded, where the Shinde faction won merely four seats while Sena (UBT) drew a complete blank.
BJP's Dominant Performance
The Bharatiya Janata Party capitalized on the Shiv Sena's internal divisions. In Nanded, BJP swept ahead with 45 of 81 seats, establishing clear dominance. The party also dominated the first-ever elections to the Jalna Municipal Corporation. Here, the Shinde-led Sena won about 12 seats while Sena (UBT) again failed to register any victory.
Parbhani Provides Lone Bright Spot
The sole exception to this pattern of poor results came from Parbhani Municipal Corporation. Here, the Thackeray-led Sena (UBT) teamed up with the Congress party to clinch a remarkable victory. Sena (UBT) secured approximately 25 seats while Congress won about 12 seats. This alliance comfortably crossed the majority mark, providing a much-needed morale booster for the Thackeray faction amid disappointing results elsewhere. Notably, the Shinde-led Sena failed to win any seat in Parbhani.
Leadership Admits Strategic Missteps
A Shiv Sena leader speaking anonymously admitted that severing ties with BJP had been a major strategic error. "Much like earlier, the party leadership expected BJP and Sena to perform on par when contesting separately, allowing room for a post-poll alliance. This calculation fell completely flat," the leader explained. "Moreover, the party lacked a strong cadre presence in several regions, which further weakened our position."
The election results highlight the continuing challenges facing both Shiv Sena factions as they navigate Maharashtra's complex political landscape without their former alliance partner.
