Mumbai :
Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray on Tuesday launched a scathing attack on Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray and his party, accusing them of betrayal and political opportunism after the MNS extended support to the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena in the Kalyan–Dombivli Municipal Corporation (KDMC).
Reacting strongly to the development, Uddhav Thackeray alleged that Raj Thackeray and the MNS had “betrayed Maharashtra,” calling them “deceivers and backstabbers.” He said the decision of the MNS to back the Shinde faction went against political morality and violated the principles of alliance politics.
The controversy erupted after the MNS announced support for the Shiv Sena led by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde in the KDMC, triggering major political ripples in Maharashtra ahead of the upcoming municipal elections. Notably, prior to the municipal polls, the Shiv Sena (UBT) and the MNS had entered into a political understanding under the leadership of Uddhav and Raj Thackeray. However, the alliance suffered a significant setback in the elections, failing to deliver expected results.
In the wake of that defeat, the MNS’s decision to support the Shinde-led Shiv Sena in the KDMC has intensified tensions. Uddhav Thackeray stated that the move was not only a breach of alliance norms but also “against dharma (righteous conduct).”
Meanwhile, Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut sought to clarify the situation, stating that the decision in the KDMC was taken by the local leadership. Raut said he had spoken to Raj Thackeray, who, according to him, was not in favour of extending support to the Shinde faction and was reportedly unhappy with the developments.
The Kalyan–Dombivli Municipal Corporation has a total of 122 seats. In the elections, the Shiv Sena (Shinde faction) emerged as the single largest party with 53 seats, narrowly pushing the BJP to second place with 51 seats. The Shiv Sena (UBT) managed to win only 11 seats, while the remaining seats went to other parties, including the MNS.
The latest political realignment is being seen as a crucial development that could influence future municipal and state-level political strategies in Maharashtra.
