06 January,2026 10:54 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
Raj Thackeray on Tuesday visited a party office in Kandivali area. Pic/Satej Shinde
Shiv Sena (UBT) president Uddhav Thackeray and Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray on Tuesday stepped up campaigning for the BMC Election 2025 by visiting party offices, known as shakhas, across Mumbai, reported the PTI.
The civic polls will be held on January 15, with counting scheduled for January 16.
The two leaders, who have reunited politically after nearly 20 years of estrangement, are choosing shakha visits over large public rallies. Their parties--Shiv Sena (UBT) and MNS--are contesting the BMC elections as part of an alliance with the Nationalist Congress Party (Sharad Pawar faction).
On Tuesday, Raj Thackeray visited several party offices in Malad, appealing to voters to support candidates of the Shiv Sena (UBT)-MNS-NCP (SP) alliance.
Meanwhile, Shiv Sena (UBT) MLA Aaditya Thackeray and MNS leader Amit Thackeray toured shakhas in Kalina, interacting with party workers and local residents.
Uddhav Thackeray also held similar shakha visits in different parts of the city to mobilise party cadres and seek public support. Party leaders said the focus on shakhas reflects a strategy of direct grassroots engagement rather than mass rallies.
The campaign is expected to intensify further as Mumbai heads into the final days before polling.
Earlier, the Thackeray cousins had decided to visit party shakhas instead of addressing multiple rallies ahead of the BMC Election 2026.
The move is being seen as a strategic recalibration aimed at directly engaging with the maximum number of voters.
The two leaders were expected to address three rallies in Mumbai -- one each in the eastern and western suburbs, along with a mega rally at Shivaji Park in Dadar. However, they are now visiting the party offices as part of ground-level campaigning.
On Sunday night, Uddhav Thackeray campaigned in ward number 2 in Dahisar, north Mumbai, in support of Shiv Sena (UBT) candidate Dhanashri Kolge. Kolge is contesting against Tejasvi Ghosalkar, a former Sena (UBT) corporator who is now the BJP nominee.
Speaking to reporters, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader and Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Raut said that only one public meeting would be held at Shivaji Park.
"Instead of expending energy on rallies, when party workers are already campaigning, it is important to reach out directly to the people," Sanjay Raut said, according to the PTI.
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(with PTI inputs)
