Ahead of the crucial Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections, Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray has urged party leaders to focus on direct outreach with citizens across Mumbai.

According to Shiv Sena (UBT) sources, while addressing party leaders and workers, Thackeray stated that it was time local leaders went door to door to connect with citizens and remind them what Shiv Sena has done for Mumbai. “Uddhav saheb has instructed us to attempt to connect with every citizen of the city and explain how Shiv Sena (UBT) has contributed to the development of the city, and how they [the ruling Mahayuti, comprising the BJP, Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena and Ajit Pawar-led NCP] are trying to erase this legacy,” said a party leader who attended the meeting.

On Sunday, a closed-door meeting was held at Shiv Sena Bhavan, the party headquarters, in Mumbai, where Thackeray interacted with party workers and leaders such as Vibhag Pramukhs, Upvibhag Pramukhs and Shaka Pramukhs and even held a separate meeting for the party’s women's wing. Emphasising the importance of focusing on retaining control of the BMC, Thackeray, citing defections, told party workers and leaders that loyalty should be prioritised above personal or monetary gain.