Our Political Desk
As Maharashtra gears up for its upcoming state assembly elections on November 20, the political landscape appears more fractured than ever. At the center of this turmoil is Uddhav Thackeray, the scion of Bal Thackeray, whose decisions have cast a long shadow over the Shiv Sena’s foundational ideology. Once a bastion of hardline Hindutva and Maharashtrian pride, the Shiv Sena now finds itself at odds with its own roots, leading to serious questions about its future relevance among its traditional voter base.
Bal Thackeray founded the Shiv Sena in 1966 with a clear mission: to protect the rights and interests of the “sons of the soil”—Marathi-speaking Maharashtrians. Under his leadership, the party quickly gained notoriety for its fiery rhetoric, pro-Hindu stances, and often militant campaigns against perceived outsiders, especially South Indians, Gujaratis, and Muslims. Bal Thackeray’s Shiv Sena was unapologetically aggressive in promoting Hindu nationalism, and his staunchly anti-Muslim views were both celebrated by his supporters and condemned by his detractors.
Bal Thackeray, despite never contesting elections himself, held immense sway over Maharashtra’s politics, particularly in Mumbai, where the Shiv Sena was able to mobilize its base through its youth wing, the Bharatiya Vidyarthi Sena, and labor unions like Bharatiya Kamgar Sena. The party’s influence reached its peak during its alliance with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the late 1980s and 1990s, when the coalition gained significant ground in state and national politics.
Uddhav Thackeray’s Departure from Tradition
The political landscape, however, began to shift dramatically after Bal Thackeray’s death in 2012. His son, Uddhav Thackeray, inherited the party leadership but soon demonstrated a willingness to stray from the party’s hardline roots. The most significant break came in 2019, when Uddhav shocked his supporters by aligning with ideologically opposite parties like the Indian National Congress and the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) to form the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) coalition government. For a party whose identity was built on vehement opposition to the Congress, this was seen by many as a betrayal of its core principles.
Critics argue that this ideological U-turn diluted the Shiv Sena’s identity, alienating its Hindu nationalist base. What was once a party synonymous with Hindutva and Marathi pride is now perceived as leaning toward a secular, centrist stance. The most recent flashpoint that has outraged the party’s traditional supporters is Uddhav Thackeray’s controversial remarks comparing the Shiv Sena’s struggle to that of Aurangzeb, the last Mughal emperor notorious among Hindu nationalists for his oppressive policies against non-Muslims. This statement is seen as a betrayal of the party’s historical stance against what it termed “Muslim appeasement.”
Eknath Shinde’s Revolt and the Split
The ideological drift under Uddhav’s leadership eventually led to a rebellion within the party ranks. In 2022, Eknath Shinde, a senior Shiv Sena leader, led an uprising that resulted in a split, with Shinde forming the Balasahebanchi Shiv Sena, named after the party’s founder to emphasize loyalty to the original ideology. Shinde’s faction, which enjoyed the support of the majority of Shiv Sena’s legislators, accused Uddhav of compromising the party’s values for political expediency by continuing the alliance with the Congress and NCP.
The Election Commission intervened, recognizing Shinde’s faction as a separate entity, forcing Uddhav’s group to rebrand itself as the Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray). This division has only deepened the ideological confusion within the party, leaving traditional supporters grappling with the question of which faction truly represents the legacy of Bal Thackeray.
The Impact on Voter Sentiment
Maharashtra’s upcoming elections are poised to serve as a litmus test for Uddhav Thackeray’s new political strategy. The Shiv Sena’s traditional Hindu voter base is increasingly disillusioned by the party’s apparent abandonment of its Hindutva credentials. Eknath Shinde’s faction, which has positioned itself as the true torchbearer of Bal Thackeray’s ideology, aims to capitalize on this disenchantment. The BJP, too, is likely to exploit this ideological rift, emphasizing its own commitment to Hindutva to lure away the Shiv Sena’s traditional voter base.
In contrast, Uddhav’s faction is banking on the broader appeal of secularism and regional unity, hoping to attract a more diverse electorate, particularly in urban areas like Mumbai. Yet, for many staunch Shiv Sainiks, this shift is seen not as evolution but as a betrayal of Bal Thackeray’s legacy. The critical question is whether this new ideological stance can win over enough voters to offset the defections to Shinde’s camp and the BJP.
The Path Ahead: An Existential Crisis
As the election draws near, the Shiv Sena faces an existential crisis. Uddhav Thackeray’s pivot to a more inclusive, secular platform has cost him the unwavering support of the party’s original Hindu nationalist base. Meanwhile, Eknath Shinde’s faction is gaining ground by positioning itself as the true inheritor of Bal Thackeray’s vision.
For many voters in Maharashtra, especially those who have long associated the Shiv Sena with hardline Hindutva and the protection of Maharashtrian identity, Uddhav’s ideological shifts appear as a betrayal. The question is whether Uddhav can redefine the party in a way that resonates with a broader electorate without alienating its core supporters—a balancing act that could determine the party’s survival in Maharashtra’s volatile political landscape.
In the end, this election may not just be a test of Uddhav Thackeray’s political acumen but a referendum on the very soul of the Shiv Sena. Will the party embrace a new, moderate identity, or will it double down on its foundational hardline principles? The results on November 23 will offer a glimpse into the future of one of Maharashtra’s most iconic political entities.
