Uddhav Thackeray’s Shiv Sena Gains Momentum Ahead of Maharashtra Assembly Elections

The Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) has achieved a significant morale boost ahead of the Maharashtra assembly elections by securing two legislative council seats in Mumbai. Former minister Anil Parab won the Mumbai Graduates constituency seat, while J.M. Abhyankar clinched the Mumbai Teachers constituency seat.

These victories have provided the Opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) with two of the four seats contested, while the ruling Mahayuti (grand alliance) retained the remaining two seats.

Historical Context

The Mumbai Graduates constituency has been a Shiv Sena stronghold for nearly four decades. It was represented in the upper house of the legislature by party veteran and former minister Pramod Navalkar for three terms and former health minister Dr. Deepak Sawant for two terms. Vilas Potnis of the Shiv Sena (UBT) is the current MLC from this seat.

Navalkar, known for his controversial ‘moral policing’ as the minister of culture during the Shiv Sena-BJP regime (1995-99), won the seat three times consecutively since 1988. In 2006, he was succeeded by Dr. Sawant, who served two terms before being replaced by Potnis in 2018. Sawant, who later joined the rival faction led by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, had fallen out of favor with the Shiv Sena leadership.

Anil Parab, a close aide of Shiv Sena (UBT) president Uddhav Thackeray, is a three-term MLC whose term is set to expire in July. Due to insufficient numbers in the lower house, he was nominated from the Mumbai Graduates constituency. Parab defeated BJP’s Kiran Shelar, a journalist and editor of the RSS mouthpiece Tarun Bharat, securing 44,784 votes out of 67,644 cast, compared to Shelar’s 18,772 votes.

J.M. Abhyankar, a close associate of former industries minister Subhash Desai, defeated Subhash More of Shikshak Bharti. The seat was previously held for three terms by former journalist Kapil Patil, who opted out of the contest and nominated More. Patil, who leads the Samajwadi Ganarajya Party, had supported the MVA in the Lok Sabha elections. Other candidates included Shivajirao Nalawade of the NCP and Independent Shivaji Shendge.

A senior Shiv Sena (UBT) leader described the victories as a morale booster, noting that while the win in the Mumbai Graduates seat was anticipated, the margin was encouraging. Abhyankar’s victory came at a time when the MVA had won four of the six Lok Sabha seats in Mumbai.

Despite these successes, the Mahayuti found some relief with BJP’s Niranjan Davkhare retaining his seat for a third term against Congress’s Ramesh Keer. In Nashik, independent MLC Kishor Darade, who joined the Shinde-led Shiv Sena, overcame challenges from Independent Vivek Kolhe and Sandeep Gulve of the Shiv Sena (UBT). Gulve, previously with the Congress and associated with the Maratha Vidya Prasarak Mandal, trailed at number three, while Kolhe was the runner-up. Mahendra Bhavsar of the NCP was also a contender.

Summary

• Shiv Sena (UBT) Victories: Anil Parab won the Mumbai Graduates constituency; J.M. Abhyankar won the Mumbai Teachers constituency.
• Historical Stronghold: Mumbai Graduates constituency has been a Shiv Sena bastion for nearly four decades.
• Key Figures: Pramod Navalkar, Dr. Deepak Sawant, Vilas Potnis, Anil Parab, J.M. Abhyankar.
• Opposition and Ruling Parties: MVA secured two seats; Mahayuti retained two seats.
• Notable Contests: Parab defeated BJP’s Kiran Shelar; Abhyankar defeated Subhash More.
• Additional Results: BJP’s Niranjan Davkhare retained his seat; Kishor Darade of Shinde-led Shiv Sena won in Nashik.

These developments are crucial for students preparing for competitive exams, providing insights into the political dynamics and historical context of Maharashtra’s legislative landscape.