Shiv Sena Minus Thackeray: All Eyes On Uddhav And The Direction His Politics Will Now Take As Polls Near

Uddhav Thackeray's decision to join hands with the Congress and the NCP to form the government in 2019 proved to be a seminal one that ultimately led to him losing the Shiv Sena. The Election Commission of India has declared that the faction led by Eknath Shinde is the legitimate Shiv Sena and has allowed it to use the party's election symbol, bow and arrow.

For those familiar with Maharashtra politics, this decision is hard to swallow. It marks a historic moment where the party founded by Bal Thackeray will continue without any member from the Thackeray family. In 2004, Uddhav was named Bal Thackeray's political successor and the executive president of Shiv Sena. Last June, several MLAs, MPs, and party members rebelled against Uddhav's leadership, and Eknath Shinde became the chief minister.

Both factions claimed to be the real Shiv Sena and the rightful owner of the party symbol. When the matter reached the Election Commission, the name and the party symbol were frozen. On an interim basis, the Uddhav-led faction adopted its name as “Shiv Sena-Uddhav Balasaheb Thackery” and a burning flame as its symbol. The Shinde faction called itself “Balasahebanchi Shiv Sena” and chose a shield and two swords as its symbol. However, with the Election Commission's ruling, the Shinde faction has been recognised as the real Shiv Sena now.

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The burning question now is how will Uddhav Thackeray navigate his political future. He lost his chief ministership in June and now his party. While he has stated that he will challenge the Election Commission's decision in the Supreme Court, the real challenge for him will be the upcoming BMC elections. Thackeray has instructed his party members to campaign against the Shinde faction calling them “thieves”. On the other hand, Eknath Shinde claims that Uddhav betrayed Bal Thackeray's true Hindutva ideology by joining hands with secular parties like the Congress and the NCP for power.

Political analysts believe that Uddhav's camp is relying on the "sympathy factor" by playing the victim card in the BMC elections. However, many loyal corporators could switch sides after the EC decision, posing a challenge to Uddhav's leadership. 

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