In a major political embarrassment ahead of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections, the much-publicised alliance between Raj Thackeray and Uddhav Thackeray has ended in disaster. Their joint “Utkarsh Panel” failed to secure even a single seat in the 21-member BEST Workers’ Co-operative Credit Society polls, a contest seen as a testing ground for their partnership.
The results, declared late Tuesday night, were a clean sweep for rivals. Shashank Rao’s panel emerged dominant, bagging 14 seats, while BJP’s Prasad Lad-led “Shramik Panel” clinched 7 seats. The Thackeray brothers’ united front drew a complete blank, leaving supporters stunned and political observers questioning the power of the “Thackeray brand” that once commanded Mumbai’s labour unions and municipal politics.
The setback is particularly significant as the BEST union has historically been a stronghold of the Thackeray family. For decades, the Kamgar Sena—founded during Bal Thackeray’s era—was a major force among transport workers. Political experts noted that this defeat exposes a sharp decline in grassroots support and could signal bigger challenges in the upcoming BMC battle.
The Raj-Uddhav alliance, announced with much fanfare, was viewed as a trial balloon for a larger collaboration in the Mumbai civic elections. However, the outcome has sparked doubts over whether the Thackeray name still carries the same weight among voters.
Reacting to the results, BJP’s Prasad Lad couldn’t resist taking a dig at the brothers. “The so-called bosses of Mumbai politics couldn’t win even a single seat. This is the reality check,” he posted on social media.
