Thackeray Reunion Backfires: Uddhav's BMC Chances Dented More Than Raj's

• The much-anticipated Thackeray cousin reunion for the BMC polls failed to deliver the expected results, particularly for Uddhav Thackeray's Shiv Sena (UBT).
• The BJP-led Mahayuti secured a decisive victory, raising questions about the impact of the Uddhav-Raj alliance.
• The election outcome suggests that pure Marathi identity politics alone is no longer sufficient to win in Mumbai, as voters prioritize governance and development.
• Uddhav Thackeray's Sena (UBT) combined a nativist pitch with Muslim consolidation, which helped in some areas but alienated traditional Sena voters.
• Shiv Sena (UBT) is leading in 73 wards, while Raj Thackeray's MNS is leading in only 10, indicating a poor strike rate for MNS and a potential setback for Uddhav's strategy.

Why It Matters: The Thackeray reunion for BMC elections did not yield desired results, potentially harming Uddhav's prospects.