Uddhav Stands Firm: No Division in Marathi Vote, Promises to Safeguard Marathi Pride

by Webdesk
03 Oct 2025

MUMBAI: Amid heavy rain and loud cheers at Shivaji Park, Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray used his party’s annual Dussehra rally on Thursday to kickstart the campaign for the upcoming local body elections. Sending out a clear message of unity, Thackeray announced that he would stand firmly with Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray to ensure that the Marathi vote remains united and Mumbai stays out of “the traders’ pockets.”

Thackeray launched a fierce attack on the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and Maharashtra’s Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, accusing them of ignoring governance and instead fueling communal tensions. “The BJP is not interested in administration anymore. They are only focused on spreading Hindu-Muslim hatred,” he said. Targeting Modi personally, Uddhav added, “The Prime Minister is shameless—he compared the India-Pakistan war with an India-Pakistan cricket match. How can someone trivialize the sacrifice of our soldiers like this?”

Despite the relentless downpour, thousands of loyal Sainiks filled Shivaji Park—a tradition dating back to 1966, when Bal Thackeray founded the Shiv Sena. The Dussehra rally has since become the Sena’s biggest annual event, where the leadership lays out the political roadmap. Even after the party split in 2022, supporters of Uddhav’s faction continue to gather in huge numbers to hear his fiery speeches.

While Thackeray stopped short of formally declaring an alliance with his cousin Raj Thackeray’s MNS for the upcoming BMC elections, he made his intentions clear. “Raj and I have already come together on July 5. We will remain united to defend Marathi pride and Mumbai’s identity. The BJP despises Maharashtra and the Marathi manoos. We will not allow Mumbai to be handed over to traders. We will protect both Marathi and Mumbai,” he asserted, drawing loud applause from the crowd.

Thackeray also took aim at Mumbai BJP president Amit Satam, without mentioning his name directly. Referring to Satam’s controversial remark that one day “some Khan” would become Mumbai’s mayor, Uddhav said, “As elections approach, they (BJP) are again resorting to communal politics—trying to divide people by religion. But remember this: if the BJP ever gains control of the BMC, they will gift all of Mumbai to Adani.”

In response, Satam mocked the turnout at the Dussehra rally, claiming that “empty chairs” were proof that “people and MLAs have abandoned Uddhav Thackeray, just like he abandoned Hindutva.” He went on to say, “He should explain how he appeared in the list of popular CMs. Now the discussion will shift to the corruption during his time in the BMC and his betrayal of Hindutva.”

Continuing his offensive, Uddhav accused both the BJP and the Shiv Sena faction led by Deputy CM Eknath Shinde—key partners in the ruling Mahayuti alliance—of massive corruption in the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC). “They have looted the BMC dry. Even the fixed deposits worth thousands of crores have been spent. We will reveal everything through a detailed white paper on the financial mismanagement of the BMC,” Thackeray promised.

He further attacked the BJP for celebrating “symbolic cuts” in the Goods and Services Tax (GST) instead of addressing deeper economic issues. “What about the thousands of crores looted through GST collections? Pandit Nehru did not bring GST, but Modi imposed it in the wrong way,” he alleged, accusing the BJP of burdening citizens while favoring corporates.

Thackeray also took the opportunity to criticize the ruling party’s overall governance record. “The BJP has nothing to do with real administration. For three long years, Manipur burned, and yet the Prime Minister never visited the state. Meanwhile, in Maharashtra, Fadnavis has completely lost control over his corrupt ministers. He merely issues warnings, but no action follows,” Uddhav said.

Throughout his speech, the Shiv Sena (UBT) chief positioned himself as the defender of Marathi identity, Mumbai’s self-respect, and people’s trust, setting the stage for what promises to be an intense political showdown ahead of the BMC elections. His message to supporters was clear: stay united, reject divisive politics, and reclaim control of Mumbai from those who, in his words, “see the city only as a commercial asset, not as a home of the Marathi soul.”

As the rally ended with chants of “Jai Maharashtra,” Uddhav Thackeray’s tone left no doubt — the coming civic polls will not just be a fight for the BMC, but a battle for Marathi asmita and Mumbai’s future.

Image Courtesy:

02 Jan 2026

BMC Elections

Uddhav Stands Firm: No Division in Marathi Vote, Promises to Safeguard Marathi Pride

Related News

BMC Election: किती उमेदवारांचे अर्ज वैध, किती बाद? मुंबई महापालिकेत अखेर कितीजण मैदानात?

मुंबईकरांसाठी मोठी घोषणा: १० रुपयांचा नाश्ता आणि महिलांना १५०० रुपये, ज्युनिअर ठाकरेंचा महामेगाप्लान उघड

BMC निवडणूक: ठाकरे बंधूंची 227 उमेदवारांची अंतिम यादी जाहीर! तुमच्या प्रभागातून कोण मैदानात? पाहा सविस्तर

Mumbai civic polls: NCP to approach State Election Commission, alleges bias favouring BJP–Shiv Sena candidates