THANE: Supporters of the erstwhile undivided Shiv Sena may still be uncertain about which faction to support. However, in Thane on Mumbai’s outskirts, it’s not uncommon to find Shiv Sainiks participating in rallies for both factions.
“Deep inside, Sainiks know what is right and wrong for them and will express it through their vote on June 4,” says an old-timer. The dilemma of whether to support Uddhav Thackeray or shift allegiance to CM Eknath Shinde is central to these Lok Sabha polls in Maharashtra. There are 13 seats where the two Senas are competing against each other. As the polls enter the final leg, Thane—a stronghold of the undivided Shiv Sena and a rapidly growing urban area—is likely to see a close contest on May 20.
Two of the district’s three LS seats—Kalyan and Thane—are currently represented by Sena MPs: Kalyan by the CM’s son Dr. Shrikant Shinde and Thane by Uddhav’s nominee Rajan Vichare. Control over this region will be seen as a testament to the rightful heir of the late Anand Dighe’s legacy, a Sena stalwart who expanded the party in the district under Balasaheb Thackeray’s leadership. Dighe has been deified in recent years through a Marathi film portraying him as a messiah for the underprivileged.
For CM Shinde, mentored by Dighe and having spent most of his three-decade-long career nurturing the constituency, winning Thane is crucial. It will not only help him retain significance in state and national politics but also give him the political leverage to tackle the upcoming assembly polls in October. Shinde has fielded former mayor and close aide Naresh Mhaske as the Mahayuti candidate from Thane. With the local civic body (which currently has no elected corporators) and at least two assembly segments in Thane city under Shinde’s Sena, Mhaske has an upper hand, though support from BJP, which also has a strong base here, is crucial.
Historically, the district was a BJP stronghold until the Shiv Sena took over in assembly and local body polls. Utilizing a blend of Hindutva and regional pride, leaders like Dighe and Shinde have dominated the area for nearly 25 years, with the exception of 2009. Additionally, the BJP has not produced a significant state leader for several years. The district, predominantly an Agri-Koli and Marathi bastion, is gradually becoming cosmopolitan due to the expansion of the industrial and services sectors, bringing in a migrant workforce. The Thane region comprises over 18 assembly segments, eight civic bodies, and several gram panchayats.
“The fight here will show who inherits the legacy of Balasaheb and Dighe. The Thackerays want to avenge the ‘betrayal’ by Shinde in Thane, the city where the party won its first civic polls, while Shinde has to justify his rebellion and retain his dominance to strengthen his standing with the BJP leadership,” said an observer. Shinde is banking on vote transfers from BJP. In Thane alone, BJP has four MLAs and three more in Kalyan. While the Shinde faction has had control over some dissolved local bodies, MLAs under state leadership retain influence in disbursing aid and commissioning public works.
During seat-sharing talks, the CM convinced Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis and BJP’s central leadership not to concede Thane (also keeping Kalyan where his son is the sitting MP). While BJP cadres were expected to comply, there is simmering discontent. “Supporters of MLA Geeta Jain from Mira Bhayander and former BJP MLA Ganesh Naik are miffed,” said a BJP supporter. Additionally, there’s the incident of BJP MLA Ganpat Gaikwad firing at Sena Kalyan unit chief Mahesh Gaikwad inside a police station, which is still on the minds of the karyakartas. Gaikwad is currently in judicial custody.
Shinde’s Thane nominee Mhaske has sought to build bridges and connect with workers familiar with him since his youth activist days. However, he faces a formidable opponent in Rajan Vichare, a two-time MP and Thackeray supporter. There is a sympathy wave for the Thackerays, who emphasize loyalty in the face of the Mahayuti’s organizational strength. “A prominent part of our campaign is to convey how the traitors deserted the Thackerays in a time of need, something Dighe saheb would never have tolerated,” said a Thackeray loyalist.
Sources close to Shinde say he has managed Thane district well for nearly two decades, strengthening his bonds with the public and political figures alike. His access to PM Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah is seen as advantageous. “He may not speak much, but his loyalists know he has a plan for everything, including fixing issues raised by the opposition,” says a supporter, impressed with Shinde’s interactions over chai and vada pav with grassroots workers.
Shinde occasionally mentions his humble origins as a first-generation migrant from western Maharashtra who drove autorickshaws for a living. Now, in his trademark spotless white attire, rubbing shoulders with Modi and Shah at rallies, Shinde makes an emotional pitch: “You’ve supported me all these years. I expect this support even now,” he says.
