07 January,2026 11:50 AM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
Raj Thackeray (L) and Uddhav Thackeray (R). File Pic
In the run-up to the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections 2026, Shiv Sena (UBT) president Uddhav Thackeray and Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray struck an aggressive and confrontational tone during a recent interview, a teaser of which has drawn significant public attention.
The discussion saw both leaders sharply criticising prevailing issues affecting Mumbai as well as broader state-level politics. Raj Thackeray launched a direct attack on Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, asserting that the latter should refrain from speaking on corruption, a remark that is expected to intensify political sparring ahead of the civic polls.
Uddhav Thackeray, meanwhile, made a pointed observation on political leadership in the city, stating that many of today's politicians cannot truly be considered "Mumbaikars." Echoing this sentiment, Raj Thackeray argued that one cannot fully understand the aspirations and concerns of Mumbaikars unless one is born and raised in the city.
The teaser also features filmmaker and actor Mahesh Manjrekar, who raises key civic concerns, including Mumbai's chronic traffic congestion and other urban challenges. His interventions underline the growing public frustration over infrastructure and quality-of-life issues in the country's financial capital.
With the BMC elections 2026 drawing closer, the interview has set the stage for a combative political narrative, highlighting local identity, governance failures and accountability as central themes likely to dominate the civic election discourse.
Uddhav and Raj Thackeray's shift from grand rallies to shakha-level visits represents a tactical recalibration designed to exploit the Shiv Sena's traditional "grassroots" advantage over the resources and network of the BJP-Sena (Shinde) alliance.
Both cousins, who have tied up to checkmate the mighty BJP-Shiv Sena alliance, are hoping this strategy will work in their favour in the high-stakes BMC elections.
Interestingly, Shiv Sena(UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray's son Aaditya Thackeray and Maharashtra Navnirman Sena founder Raj Thackeray's son Amit Thackeray are also stepping up their outreach through shakha-level visits. Thackeray cousins are expected to hold only one grand rally on January 11 at Shivaji Park while focusing on shakha-level visits.
The shakha (local party office) has historically been the heartbeat of the Shiv Sena. By visiting individual shakhas, the Thackeray cousins are moving the battleground away from media-driven "optics" (where the BJP excels) to personal contact. Unlike a rally where messages are broad, shakha visits allow the leaders to address ward-specific grievances, such as local water issues, redevelopment delays, or neighbourhood security. For a Marathi voter, the sight of a Thackeray entering their local shakha carries deep sentimental value, reinforcing the "sons of the soil" narrative that the Shinde faction is trying to claim.
