BEST Election 2025: Thackeray Brothers’ Unity Fails, Crushing Defeat in Key Contest

by Webdesk
20 Aug 2025

The results of the BEST Employees’ Co-operative Credit Society Election 2025 have created tremors in Mumbai’s political landscape. What many political watchers considered a crucial litmus test for the Thackeray brothers — Uddhav Thackeray and Raj Thackeray — ended in an unexpected setback, altering the existing power balance in one of the city’s most influential co-operative bodies.

The election, held on August 18, saw a prolonged and tense vote count that stretched into the early hours of Tuesday. When the final tally was declared, the outcome was far from what was anticipated. Defying predictions of a tight race, Shashank Rao’s panel scored a clear and dominant win, securing 14 out of 21 seats. In contrast, the Mahayuti-supported Sahakar Samruddhi panel managed to capture only seven seats, while the Thackeray brothers’ joint experiment — the Utkarsh panel — failed to open its account. The complete absence of seats for the Thackeray camp marked one of their most dramatic electoral defeats in recent memory.

This result also brought an end to the Thackerays’ nine-year dominance in the society’s affairs. For nearly a decade, the Thackeray-led faction had enjoyed an uninterrupted control. But this election broke that streak, leaving their leadership and grassroots strength under sharp scrutiny. Importantly, political observers note that this election was more than just about managing a co-operative credit society — it was widely perceived as a trial run ahead of the BMC elections. Both Uddhav and Raj Thackeray had come together for the first time in years, and their collaboration was closely monitored as a possible indicator of future political alignments in Mumbai.

Analysts argue that the victory of Shashank Rao’s team was no accident. Instead, it was the result of years of consistent groundwork. Rao’s panel built its campaign on a strong connection with BEST employees, active engagement with unions, and timely efforts to resolve workers’ grievances. His leadership also benefited from the legacy of his late father, Sharad Rao, a respected labour union figure. This organisational network and credibility resonated with the nearly 15,000 employees who voted. Many chose to support Rao’s independent panel rather than back either the Thackerays’ camp or the Mahayuti-supported panel.

Reacting to the defeat, Suhas Samant, President of BEST Kamgar Sena (UBT), accused the BJP of heavily deploying both financial and political muscle. “The results are out and we have lost, but I still congratulate the winners. The question remains: how did we lose when so many employees were on our side? In the last week alone, there was an unprecedented flow of money. We assumed workers might accept money but still vote with their conscience. Sadly, that didn’t happen. We worked tirelessly for BEST, but BJP brought in its resources and influence. What surprises me most is how much machinery was used by them, even for a co-operative society election. Their determination is undeniable — but so is the atmosphere of fear it creates,” Samant remarked.

On the other hand, BJP leaders wasted no time in interpreting the outcome as a public mandate. Party spokesperson Navnath Ban told reporters, “In this election, Uddhav Thackeray’s faction and its allies faced a humiliating loss. Not a single one of their candidates succeeded. This is more than just a result; it’s a referendum ahead of the BMC polls. Importantly, the election was conducted through ballot papers, not EVMs. So, Sanjay Raut cannot use his usual excuses of tampering or conspiracy. The question now is — will he accept this democratic verdict, or will he stay quiet?”

Meanwhile, within the Sahakar Samruddhi panel, the outcome was mixed. Of its seven winning candidates, four belonged to BJP leader Prasad Lad’s group, two to Shinde Sena’s Kiran Pawaskar faction, and one represented the OBC Welfare Union.

For the Thackeray brothers, however, the results are nothing short of a political embarrassment. Their attempt to signal unity and test the waters before the BMC elections has clearly backfired. With civic polls looming, the defeat raises sharp questions about the strength of their alliance, their grassroots connect, and their capacity to present a united and credible alternative to the ruling coalition in Mumbai.

Image Courtesy:

02 Jan 2026

BMC Elections

BEST Election 2025: Thackeray Brothers’ Unity Fails, Crushing Defeat in Key Contest

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