Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray declared on Tuesday that his party will back any chief ministerial candidate announced by its alliance partners, Congress or NCP (Sharad Pawar faction), to “save” Maharashtra in the upcoming assembly elections.
Addressing an event, the former chief minister accused the current Maharashtra government, led by the Mahayuti coalition, of spreading “fake narratives” through widespread advertisements as the state prepares for the assembly polls, expected next month. Thackeray also took a swipe at the government’s Ladki Bahin scheme, under which eligible women receive Rs 1,500, claiming that the state was using public funds to mislead citizens and undermine the values of “Maharashtra Dharma.”
“We will support any chief ministerial face declared by Congress or NCP(SP). This is crucial to save Maharashtra from the fake narratives being promoted by the current administration,” Thackeray said, reinforcing his dedication to the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) alliance’s efforts to unseat the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led coalition.
Thackeray’s statement builds on his earlier position in August when he insisted that the MVA must decide on a unified chief ministerial candidate prior to the election rather than waiting for the party with the most seats to lead. Thackeray reiterated his willingness to support any candidate from the Congress or NCP(SP) to strengthen the alliance and prevent division.
Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut had praised Thackeray’s decision at the time, noting that it reflected his “largeness of heart” and underscoring that it was not about “pressure politics.” Raut had also stressed that this decision would benefit Maharashtra in the long run.
As the 288-member Maharashtra assembly election approaches, Thackeray’s statement marks a significant moment in the opposition’s strategy to counter the ruling coalition, with the MVA aiming for a united front to regain power.
The upcoming election is widely seen as a litmus test for Thackeray’s leadership of the Shiv Sena (UBT) faction after the split with the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena, and his collaboration with Congress and NCP(SP) is poised to play a key role in the outcome.