Ahead of BMC 2025 elections leaders, office bearers, and activists from various regions of Maharashtra, including Mumbai, Thane, Kalyan, Bhiwandi, Pune, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Ratnagiri, and Sindhudurg, have been departing from the Thackeray faction in large numbers. In response, Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray has taken action to combat the perception that his party is weakening due to these defections. To address the situation, Thackeray convened discussions at Matoshree with key party leaders and has now decided to hold separate meetings with MPs and MLAs, especially in light of the upcoming Mumbai Municipal Corporation elections.
Eknath Shinde’s rebellion caused a significant split in Shiv Sena, enabling him to form a government with the BJP and become Chief Minister, while also securing the Shiv Sena name and its iconic bow-and-arrow symbol, further undermining Uddhav Thackeray's position. Shinde’s faction achieved notable success in the assembly elections, deepening the challenges for Thackeray.
With the crucial Mumbai Municipal Corporation elections approaching, Thackeray faces one of the toughest tests of his career. Following the appointment of Somnath Saple as the head for the Kurla and Kalina constituencies, party workers and Shiv Sainiks gathered at Matoshree, where Thackeray outlined his strategy.
In a fiery response to his setbacks, Thackeray stated, "I have been given many shocks, but now I have become a shock man. Let’s see who gives how many shocks—because when I strike, it will be one shock that won’t be forgotten." With elections expected in April or May, Thackeray urged party members to remain focused and learn from previous mistakes, particularly those from the legislative assembly elections.
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Addressing the growing internal unrest, Thackeray acknowledged that some tough decisions have caused dissatisfaction but stressed that the fight is about the entire party, not just individuals. He warned, "How have those who are hurting our roots come forward? They are using our own people against us to attack the Marathi identity. These are the days of organization building."