Bal Thackeray: The nation is celebrating the 100th Birthday of Bal Thackeray, the undisputed “Tiger of Mumbai.” His legacy has been failed time and again by his son Uddhav Thackeray but can Uddhav’s UBT Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray faction) play a crucial role in the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) Mayor elections?
Thackeray built Shiv Sena from just another group of Marathi manoos into a powerful political juggernaut. In the 1960s, Thackeray unleashed a fiery rhetoric against migrants from South India, igniting regional pride that reshaped Maharashtra politics. Bal Thackeray’s Shiv Sena was not just a party but a movement that was raw, unapologetic and fiercely protective of the working class.
The cartoonist-turned-orator persona of Thackeray commanded stadiums, toppled governments and even influenced Bollywood. He ruled without ever holding office, a testament to his cult-like charisma. Today, as BMC Mayor elections heat up in 2026, his shadow looms large. But has his son Uddhav turned this tiger into a tamed house cat?
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Uddhav’s Dilution: The Legacy of Bal Thackeray Betrayed
In 2019, Uddhav Thackeray, the son of Bal Thackeray, inherited the throne but soon whispers of dilution started to grow louder. The Shiv Sena of Bal Thackeray thrived on street-smart aggression – corporator muscle, hawkers’ loyalty and unyielding Hindutva. Uddhav, however, pivoted to “soft Hindutva,” allying with Congress and NCP in the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA). Critics call it betrayal!
The 2022 split of Shiv Sena gave birth to Eknath Shine’s rival faction, now backed by the Bhartiya Janata Party, leaving Uddhav’s UBT Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray faction) as a rump. Bal Thackeray’s tiger roared for manoos supremacy; Uddhav’s cat purrs for alliances. Has the son tamed the father’s fire, eroding Shiv Sena’s core?
BMC Battleground: UBT’s Make-or-Break Moment
Mumbai’s mayor, though ceremonial, symbolizes control over roads, water and slums – Bal Thackeray’s playground. Shinde-BJP holds sway, but UBT eyes cracks: recent defections and MVA unity talks could flip 20-30 seats.
UBT’s strategy? Revive Bal’s legacy with aggressive Marathi pride campaigns, targeting mill workers in Dadar and fishermen in Colaba. Leaders like Aaditya Thackeray rally with “Bal Saheb’s Sainiks” slogans, promising “Mumbai for Mumbaikars.”
Can UBT Roar Back to Glory?
The legacy of Bal Thackeray demands more than nostalgia; it craves action. The tactical retreats of Uddhav, ditching Hindutva hardliners for power-sharing, alienated the base of Shiv Sena that once stormed Matoshree.
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