By Vibha Sharma

In politics, it can never really be an endgame. So, are the devastating developments in Shiv Sena (UBT) the end of the road for party chief Uddhav Thackeray—the son of the man who started it all six decades ago, the late Balasaheb Thackeray?

Considered an introverted politician, especially when compared to the aggressive line followed by the "original" Shiv Sena and his father, many believe that the "humble and modest" Uddhav was perhaps never really cut out for cutthroat politics. For much of his early life, he remained out of the spotlight, preferring wildlife and aerial photography over public life.

His cousin Raj Thackeray was widely seen as more of a chip off the old block, resembling Balasaheb Thackeray in temperament and political style.

Uddhav took control of the party in January 2013 after the death of his father and also inherited the BJP-Shiv Sena alliance—one of the oldest and most enduring ideological coalitions in Indian politics, spanning three decades before its collapse in 2019 over power-sharing issues between the two.

Observers say breaking up with the BJP was perhaps Uddhav's biggest mistake.

After breaking up with the BJP, he formed the Maha Vikas Aghadi government with the Congress and the NCP to become the Chief Minister of Maharashtra —a decision that reshaped Maharashtra politics and the fortunes of his party. But since the first split in 2022, when he lost the government, MLAs, and the "Bow and Arrow" party symbol to Eknath Shinde, he has been battling a perception war over who carries the Balasaheb's legacy.

Observers say more than when leaders like Chhagan Bhujbal, Narayan Rane, or Raj Thackeray left, what hurt Uddhav most was when Shinde jumped ship to become Chief Minister with the support of the BJP and, later, the breakaway faction of Sharad Pawar's NCP. Unlike earlier departures led by individual leaders, the Shinde revolt directly challenged his leadership and the party's political future.

On Monday, Shinde dealt another devastating blow, taking away six of Uddhav's nine Lok Sabha MPs. With rumblings also among Shiv Sena (UBT) MLAs and no control over local bodies, especially the BMC, observers say Uddhav's uncertain future now depends on how he navigates the upcoming electoral battles with a shrinking support base.

His immediate challenge will be whether he can rally remaining supporters, reinvent the party's grassroots outreach, and show that he still holds the Thackeray legacy. "Despite losing the party name and symbol to Shinde, Uddhav and son Aaditya Thackeray still hold the Thackeray surname, which may hold some emotional value among Shiv Sena supporters," they say. There may also be a sympathy factor favouring him, but will that hold given the sharp politics of rivals BJP and Shinde? That remains to be seen.

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Pune, City Correspondent

Congress MP Rahul Gandhi recently launched a scathing attack on the Election Commission of India (ECI), alleging large-scale voter fraud. Responding to these allegations, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said that in recent times, Rahul Gandhi seems to have contacted scriptwriters Salim-Javed to write his speeches. “This script is highly entertaining and is being recited everywhere, but beyond the entertainment, there is nothing substantial in it,” Fadnavis commented. “All his claims are purely fictional,” he added.

Fadnavis was speaking at the Yashwantrao Chavan Academy of Development Administration (YASHADA) in Pune, where he was present as the chief guest for various programs. Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar also attended the event. During the interaction, CM Fadnavis was asked about Rahul Gandhi’s remarks.

The Chief Minister further said, “Rahul Gandhi is now claiming issues in the voter list, but we have been pointing this out for years. He doesn’t understand what a comprehensive revision of the voter list means. He is merely trying to find excuses for his electoral losses.”

Commenting on the recent INDIA alliance meeting, where Uddhav Thackeray, Aaditya Thackeray, and Sanjay Raut were seen seated in the last row, Fadnavis took a dig at the opposition. He said, “With us, they were always in the front row sometimes even ahead of us. This shows the kind of respect they enjoy now. They used to proudly proclaim that they would never bow before Delhi or lay down the red carpet for Delhi, but it is truly painful to see their current condition despite not even being in power.”

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