Shiv Sena UBT leader Aditya Thackeray and MNS chief Raj Thackeray
Even though the Maharashtra assembly election is yet to be formally announced, the political chessboard has already begun. Efforts have begun to corner Shiv Sena (UBT) president Uddhav Thackeray’s son Aditya Thackeray in his stronghold. Aditya Thackeray was elected MLA from Worli assembly seat in 2019 and he plans to contest from here this time as well. In such a situation, Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray has announced his close leader Sandeep Deshpande to contest against Aditya Thackeray from Worli seat.
A day after fielding Sandeep Deshpande from the Worli seat, Raj Thackeray also met Chief Minister Eknath Shinde. This meeting was held on the issue of fighting together in the assembly elections. This time Raj Thackeray is busy putting the election board with a very strategic approach. The way Raj Thackeray has fielded his close ally Sandeep Pandey against Aditya Thackeray, one thing is clear that he has devised a strategy to corner Aditya Thackeray in his own house so that he cannot get out of the Worli seat in the elections.
Aditya Thackeray became MLA in 2019
In the 2019 Maharashtra Assembly elections, Aditya Thackeray was elected as an MLA winning the Worli seat by a margin of 67,427 votes. Aditya Thackeray became the first person from the family to enter electoral politics. Although Shiv Sena’s (UBT) Arvind Sawant managed to win from Mumbai South in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, he got a lead of only 6,715 votes in the Worli seat. Worli is the lowest among the four constituencies falling under Mumbai South, where the Shiv Sena (UBT) leader was ahead of his rival. Seeing this, a strategy has been made to surround Aditya Thackeray in Worli.
No candidate was fielded against Aditya in the 2019 elections
Raj Thackeray has made a political move by announcing Sandeep Deshpande’s name. Raj Thackeray did not field his candidate against Aditya in Worli seat in 2019 assembly elections, but this time he not only presented a candidate but also presented a vision plan for Worli seat. Even though Sandeep Deshpande is contesting on an MNS ticket from the Worli assembly seat, the electoral contest is being seen as uncle versus nephew.
Aditya Thackeray’s political traction may increase
Raj Thackeray’s vision plan promises development of Worli Koliwada, better private schools and healthcare and improving the lives of slum dwellers. Raj Thackeray played the outsider card against Marathi while launching Sandeep Deshpande’s election campaign in Worli. Raj Thackeray said that most of the state’s money was being spent on outsiders and blamed the influx of outsiders for the rapidly growing population. Thus Aditya Thackeray has a strategy to increase political tension.
What did Sandeep Deshpande say on Worli seat election?
Sandeep Deshpande, who is very close to Raj Thackeray, secured around 33 thousand votes in Worli in the 2017 municipal corporation elections. MNS claimed that common people do not reach Aditya Thackeray. Deshpande says people in Worli want an MLA who is approachable, but the current MLA is not. Raj Thackeray’s fielding of a candidate could increase the tension for Aditya Thackeray on the Worli seat, as the Maratha vote is sure to be split. In such a situation BJP or Shinde’s party can get benefit.
Eknath Shinde’s Shiv Sena is also very active
Eknath Shinde’s Shiv Sena has been active in the Worli assembly seat for a long time. The Chief Minister has launched several welfare schemes for the local Dhartiputra-Koli community, of which there are a significant number. BJP is also trying to contest on this seat, but the seat sharing formula has not been decided. Aditya Thackeray will weave his victory fabric through his high-profile image and former local MLAs Sachin Ahir and Sunil Shinde, but the opposition parties have started making political maneuvers.
