A new Congress–Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi tie-up for the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation elections has exposed fresh fault lines within the Maha Vikas Aghadi, with Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray accusing both the BJP and the Congress of betrayal in a closed-door address to party workers at Sena Bhavan.
Targeting both national parties, Thackeray said the BJP had “misused” Shiv Sena, while the party’s experience with Congress had been no better. Referring to the alliance with the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS), he said compromises were unavoidable in alliances and that some wards had to be conceded for a larger, emotional battle. “If anyone thinks Shiv Sena can be wiped out of Mumbai, that is part of a bigger plan to dominate Maharashtra itself,” he warned.
Thackeray said party workers had already witnessed the “wrongdoings” of the BJP and had also seen the reality of working with the Congress. Stressing that the BJP must be defeated at any cost. “The BJP is like an anaconda. It has to be crushed politically,” Thackeray said, urging party workers to fight an uncompromising battle to protect Mumbai and Maharashtra.
Recalling Shiv Sena’s long political dominance in the city, Thackeray said that despite decades of rivalry, no force had succeeded in wresting Mumbai from the party. He called upon workers to convert their present enthusiasm into celebration on January 16, when the civic poll results are expected. “No one has been able to snatch Mumbai from Shiv Sena. This time too, that tradition must continue,” he said.
Uddhav Thackeray asserted that only Shiv Sena could safeguard Maharashtra and its ethos. He announced that candidates would be finalised on the same day and formally declared the next day, making it clear that the final decision would rest with him. “This will be my final word. Some may feel disappointed, but everyone must think for a moment by sitting in my chair,” he told party leaders, warning against defection and indiscipline.
Referring to the turbulent period after the party lost the bow-and-arrow symbol, Thackeray reminded workers how Shiv Sena rebuilt itself under the torch symbol. “Even when the symbol was taken away, we stood firm and rebuilt the party,” he said, appealing for loyalty and restraint.
Even as Thackeray sought unity within Shiv Sena, developments elsewhere underlined growing fractures within the opposition bloc. The Congress formally announced a tie-up with the Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi for the BMC elections, under which the VBA will contest 62 seats, while Congress will field candidates in 165 seats. Congress leaders said the alliance was based on shared constitutional values rather than mere electoral arithmetic, though the move is likely to further strain relations within the MVA, already marked by differences over seat-sharing and alliance strategy.
