Mumbai Verdict Ends 3-Decade Thackeray Hold

mumbai:Thackeray’s hegemony in Mumbai is finally over. After nearly three decades, the family that ruled the country’s financial capital with tight control was dethroned by the BJP-led coalition.

Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray had joined hands with his estranged cousin, MNS chief Raj Thackeray, in a desperate bid to retain power in his stronghold. However, the Thackeray magic did not work this time as Mumbaikars decided to hand over power to the BJP-Shiv Sena (Eknath Shinde) alliance, which won 118 seats and reached the point of simple majority.

In the 227-member Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) house, the BJP won 89 seats while its ally Shiv Sena (Eknath Shinde) won 29 seats. While Shiv Sena (UBT) could win 65 seats, MNS managed to win only six seats. The Congress, which fought separately, won 24 seats.

According to the announced results, Shiv Sena (UBT) managed to maintain its dominance in Marathi-dominated areas in Central and East Mumbai. But in the non-Maharashtrian-dominated island city and its western suburbs, the BJP has moved ahead decisively. The Congress’ decision to contest as an independent also favored the saffron party and created a split in the opposition votes.

Shiv Sena (United), in alliance with the BJP, has been ruling the BMC, the country’s richest civic body, since 1985 (except for the five-year period between 1992-97). However, while both parties fought separately in the 2017 elections, Shiv Sena managed to remain in power with a difference of only two seats. While Shiv Sena won 84 seats, BJP came dangerously close with 82 seats. Since then, the saffron party was desperately trying to wrest power from the Shiv Sena in the BMC.

With an annual budget of around Rs 75,000 billion, BMC is the richest municipal corporation in the country and its annual budget is higher than many smaller states such as Kerala, Goa and the northeastern states. The civic body was considered the main source of financial support to the Shiv Sena.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said the next BMC mayor will be Hindu as well as Marathi. He also mocked Shiv Sena (UBT) saying this situation would have arisen had they not betrayed Balasaheb Thackeray’s principles. “The result showed that the genuine Thackeray brand belongs to Balasaheb alone,” he said.