One year of Sena rebellion: Uddhav Thackeray yet to rebuild party, find replacements for rebels

Apart from losing over two-third of his party legislators, Uddhav also lost the recognition as Shiv Sena party president.

Uddhav Thackeray

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Until a year ago, Shiv Sena without the legacy of its founder Bal Thackeray and his chosen descendant Uddhav Thackeray, was unimaginable. However, the June 21, 2022, rebellion by Sena leader Eknath Shinde, who was nurtured by late Bal Thackeray, dethroned Uddhav from the post of Chief Minister and also took away Shiv Sena title along with its party poll symbol “bow and arrow” that were synonymous with only the Thackerays.

Apart from losing over two-third of his party legislators, Uddhav also lost the recognition as Shiv Sena party president.

In the legal battle that was ensued between Shinde and Uddhav for the party name and poll symbol, the Election Commission officially recognised Shinde faction as the real Shiv Sena in February this year, allotting the party name and symbol to them. The rebellion and vertical split in the 56-year-old party led to the fall of Uddhav Thackeray-led MVA government with many raising questions on the existence and future of Uddhav-led Sena.

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However, Uddhav and the faction led by him — Shiv Sena (UBT) — seems to have managed to hold the ground. The cadre still seems to be loyal to Uddhav who managed to gain some sympathy from the people of the state. Uddhav also emerged as the strongest critic of BJP in the state.

His attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah, after joining the MVA has helped Uddhav gain new friends in the national political circle, and some space among the opposition parties in the national level.

Even as Uddhav has been trying to make new allies, targetting Shinde and BJP by setting a narrative that the current dispensation in the state is unconstitutional, he is also facing several challenges, including rebuilding the organisational structure of his party. The Sena UBT chief has a daunting task at hand to leverage people’s sympathy into votes in the upcoming civic body elections as well as Lok Sabha and Assembly polls.

Political observers believe that along with the narrative on “betrayal” by Eknath Shinde and the BJP, Uddhav should also present his vision of development for the state and give an action plan for party workers that would be crucial in rebuilding the party.

Uddhav has been attacking the BJP and Shinde over “stealing” his party name and symbol though observers feel that there is a huge vacuum of leaders in his faction after the vertical split that needs to be addressed.

“For sure setting up the narrative of Shinde and others as traitors is successful and there was also sympathy for Uddhav. However, rebuilding the party is crucial task, but it looks like that is not taking place. Over 60 senior leaders have left the party along with other functionaries, weakening the organisation. At this stage, rebuilding the organisational structure of the party and finding replacements for the rebel MLAs and MPs is a task in front of Uddhav,” said Sanjay Patil, a researcher at the University of Mumbai who has done doctorate in the journey of Shiv Sena between 1985 and 2022.

As the alliance of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), Congress and Sena UBT — MVA — has declared to contest the upcoming polls together, there is also the task of deciding on a seat-sharing formula and sort out the bickering between the allies over different issues. “At present, Sena UBT is left with 16 MLAs and 5 MPs in Maharashtra… Uddhav should ensure that he gets a considerable share of seats among the MVA constituents. Also Uddhav should find fresh and strong candidates in the constituencies of those MLAs and MPs who have joined Shinde-led Sena. He may have to compromise on some seats and take help of NCP and Congress for the candidates,” said Hemant Desai, a former senior journalist and another political observer.

Desai also admitted that the most challenging task for Uddhav is rebuilding his organisation that has weakened like never before after 40 out of 56 MLAs and 13 out of 18 MPs have launched a rebellion with him along with the office-bearers of the party.