He also alleged that the BJP wants to mortgage Mumbai and accused the party of winning the polls through betrayal, asserting that the Marathi manoos would never forgive this “sin”. The former CM said the BJP was under the impression that it had finished off Shiv Sena (UBT), but that had not happened
Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray addresses a press conference in Dadar. PIC/SAYYED SAMEER ABEDI
Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray on Saturday said that if God is willing, his party will install its mayor in Mumbai, news agency PTI reported. His remarks came during an interaction with Shiv Sena (UBT) workers a day after the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena alliance wrested control of the Mumbai civic body from the Thackerays in the high-stakes polls.
He alleged that the BJP wants to mortgage Mumbai and accused the party of winning the elections through betrayal, asserting that the Marathi manoos would never forgive this “sin”.
Thackeray said it remains his dream to install a Shiv Sena (UBT) Mayor in Mumbai and added that if God is willing, this dream will be fulfilled, PTI reported.
He said the BJP was under the impression that it had finished off Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray), but that had not happened.
“The BJP couldn’t finish off Shiv Sena on the ground,” Thackeray said, apparently referring to the 65 seats won by Sena (UBT) in the won the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) Election 2026.
He claimed that while the BJP used all possible means, it failed to buy loyalty.
“They (BJP) have registered victory by betrayal for mortgaging Mumbai. Marathi manoos will never forgive this sin. The battle has not ended; it has just begun,” Thackeray said.
BMC Election 2026 Results: Parties and the number of winning candidates
In the 227-member BMC, the BJP won 89 seats, while its ally Shiv Sena secured 29. Shiv Sena (UBT) won 65 seats, and the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) bagged six. The Congress, which contested in alliance with the Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi (VBA), won 24 seats, while the AIMIM secured eight seats. The NCP won three seats, the Samajwadi Party two, and the NCP (SP) managed just one seat.
पक्षप्रमुख मा. श्री. उद्धवसाहेब ठाकरे ह्यांची पत्रकार परिषद | शिवसेना भवन, दादर, मुंबई - #LIVE https://t.co/JwDz0FhqN2
— ShivSena - शिवसेना Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray (@ShivSenaUBT_) January 17, 2026
Explained: Why Uddhav and Raj Thackeray couldn’t win the BMC elections 2026
The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) Election 2026 marked a major setback for Thackeray cousins Uddhav and Raj, despite their much-anticipated political reunion. The alliance was expected to consolidate Marathi votes and pose a strong challenge to the ruling dispensation, but the election results told a different story.
From stalled infrastructure projects and civic mismanagement to a weak and delayed campaign strategy, several factors contributed to their failure to connect with Mumbaikars. Here are the key reasons behind their defeat:
Metro projects
Uddhav Thackeray and his son Aaditya Thackeray have been accused of creating hurdles in Metro projects, leading to delays and missed deadlines.
Roads
During the years of rule by the undivided Shiv Sena, Mumbai faced persistent civic issues, including pothole-ridden roads and broken pavements.
Flyovers and bridges
Several bridges and flyovers were in poor condition and were not maintained adequately. While the Shiv Sena initiated work on many projects, it failed to expedite them in line with citizens’ expectations.
Railways
Despite having several Members of Parliament, Shiv Sena (UBT) failed to effectively take up key railway-related issues with the Central government to improve Mumbai’s suburban rail network, often referred to as the city’s lifeline.
Strategy
The Thackeray cousins formally announced their alliance only on December 24, 2024. Tickets were distributed just a day before the nomination-filing deadline. Both leaders held only one rally each in Mumbai, Nashik and Thane, and visited select local offices in Mumbai.
Ideally, they should have toured grassroots units after coming together to energise the party cadre. The campaign lacked conviction and often appeared half-hearted. Instead of adopting an inclusive approach, the alliance focused largely on linguistic issues, assuming Marathi votes alone would be sufficient. Little attention was paid to the everyday problems faced by Mumbaikars, which weakened their appeal.
(With PTI inputs)
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