NEW DELHI: Uddhav Thackeray‘s bold decision to challenge the BJP in 2019 and form an alliance with the Congress and NCP has resulted in a significant electoral setback in the Maharashtra assembly elections, where his Shiv Sena (UBT) secured only 20 out of 95 contested seats. He expressed surprise at the electorate’s dramatic shift in preference, considering their rejection of the BJP-led alliance merely five months ago in Lok Sabha elections.
The political journey of Bal Thackeray’s reserved son has been notable. He successfully overcame challenges from Narayan Rane and his cousin Raj Thackeray, eventually becoming Maharashtra’s chief minister in November 2019 after dissolving the long-standing BJP alliance post-assembly elections.
During the Covid-19 crisis, Uddhav established a strong connection with the public through social media platforms like Facebook live, presenting himself as a reassuring leader.
Despite receiving acclaim for his pandemic management, he failed to recognise growing dissatisfaction within his party regarding the alliance with former ideological opponents.
Eknath Shinde‘s rebellion in June 2022 resulted in his government’s collapse and a party split. Nevertheless, Uddhav maintained his criticism of the BJP, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and those he termed “traitors” who aligned with Shinde. His party’s performance in the Lok Sabha elections was modest, winning nine out of 21 contested seats.
Critics have pointed out his limited accessibility, with even ally Sharad Pawar commenting on his tendency to work from home during his chief ministership. However, Uddhav gained support from previously distant communities, including Muslims and Dalits, and developed his own distinctive speaking style, different from his father’s but equally sharp.
Following the BJP-Shiv Sena-NCP alliance’s decisive victory, chief minister Eknath Shinde declared it settled the question of Shiv Sena’s legitimate leadership. The 64-year-old Uddhav and his son Aaditya now face the task of maintaining their remaining support base and challenging Shinde’s claim to Bal Thackeray’s legacy, while defending their alliance with the ‘secular’ Congress and NCP.
Will he be able to make a comeback from this?
(With PTI inputs)