After its disappointing performance in the Maharashtra assembly elections, the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT) appears to be shifting back to its core Hindutva agenda, signaling a political course correction ahead of upcoming civic polls.
In the wake of its electoral drubbing, where the party secured only 20 seats in the 288-member Maharashtra assembly, Shiv Sena (UBT) has intensified its attack on the central government over the alleged persecution of Hindus in Bangladesh, particularly after the fall of the Sheikh Hasina-led government in August.
Additionally, the party has vowed to protect an "80-year-old" Hanuman Temple near Mumbai's Dadar station, which is facing demolition under a notice issued by the railways.
Aaditya Thackeray, the party's leader, performed a 'maha aarti' at the temple, emphasising the party’s stance on Hindutva.
This comes after a controversial social media post by Milind Narvekar, an aide to Uddhav Thackeray, on December 6. The post, which celebrated the 1992 Babri Masjid demolition with a quote from Shiv Sena founder Bal Thackeray, sparked a backlash, particularly from Shiv Sena (UBT) allies.
Samajwadi Party Maharashtra chief Abu Azmi threatened to withdraw from the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) alliance in response to the provocative message.
On 13 December, Uddhav Thackeray raised concerns about the safety of Hindus in Bangladesh, questioning what steps the Indian government had taken to protect the community.
These moves are seen as an attempt by Shiv Sena (UBT) to reclaim its Hindutva identity, which was sidelined after the party’s alliance with the Congress and the NCP in 2019, following its split from the BJP.
Political analysts suggest the party’s shift towards Hindutva may be a tactical move to recover support from its traditional voter base, especially as Shiv Sena (UBT) is preparing for the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections.
The BMC was under Shiv Sena's control for 25 years before it was lost in 2022, and the party’s losses in the November assembly elections revealed a weakening of its core support base.
A few of its wins came with very slim margins in Mumbai constituencies, and its ambiguous stance on issues such as the Uniform Civil Code and Waqf Board Amendment Bill has given the BJP further ammunition against it.
Ambadas Danve, the leader of the opposition in Maharashtra's Legislative Council, defended the party’s Hindutva credentials.
"Our Hindutva is different. It does not mean hating minorities," Danve said, asserting that the party has always remained true to its ideology.
Analysts like Abhay Deshpande note that the Shiv Sena (UBT)’s new focus on Hindutva is a response to its electoral setbacks.
The party’s earlier move to embrace a more secular position has not resonated with its core voters, many of whom have shifted loyalty to the Eknath Shinde-led faction of Shiv Sena and the BJP.
Prakash Akolkar, author of Jai Maharashtra -- Ha Shiv Sena Navacha Itihas Aahe (Jai Maharashtra -- This is the History of Shiv Sena), suggested that the shift to Hindutva reflects the party’s frustration with its lack of ideological direction. "In 2019, Uddhav Thackeray said his party made a mistake by mixing religion with politics.
Now, the party is returning to its Hindutva plank. This shows that it lacks a real ideology," Akolkar said.
The shifting political landscape signals a recalibration of strategy for Shiv Sena (UBT), as it seeks to reclaim lost ground and appeal to voters who are sympathetic to its traditional ideology.
Follow us
