Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar:
In the high-stakes municipal election battle, the Uddhav Sena fielded an unprecedented 99 candidates. However, internal factionalism and a lack of planning allowed the BJP–Shinde Sena combine to inflict a crushing defeat on the party.
Chhatrapati sambhajinagar had long been regarded as a traditional stronghold of the Shiv Sena, which had been in power in the municipal corporation since 1995. The election results declared on Friday came as a shock to the Uddhav Sena, though political observers say the outcome was largely expected. Despite fielding 99 candidates, the party failed to put in the organisational effort required to ensure their victory.
The internal dispute between party leaders Chandrakant Khaire and Ambadas Danve became public during the campaign. The leaders appeared unconcerned about the impact this infighting would have on voters. Khaire repeatedly criticised Danve’s working style in public, and on polling day he openly ridiculed him. The results suggest that voters were reluctant to support candidates of a party whose leaders were not united. There were no signs of joint meetings to chalk out election strategy, nor were any joint campaign rallies held. Shiv sainiks openly expressed hopes that both leaders would resolve their differences and work together for the party, but that did not happen. While Danve did take out campaign rallies, there was no clear strategy to counter rivals, leading to what many describe as a complete political collapse.
Only six Uddhav Sena candidates were elected. Ambadas Danve’s brother, Rajendra, was also defeated. Several senior office-bearers deserted the party and joined rival parties ahead of the polls. Chief Raju Vaidya and many former corporators quit the Uddhav Sena at the last moment to join the BJP or the Shinde Sena. These back-to-back setbacks during the election period severely weakened the party organisation. The departure of key office-bearers and workers, who formed the backbone of the campaign machinery, proved particularly damaging.
Uddhav Thackeray’s rally drew crowds, but…
Uddhav Thackeray addressed a single public rally during the municipal election campaign. While the rally attracted a large crowd, the party failed to convert this support into actual votes.