Elections for 288 Maharashtra Assembly seats will be held on November 20, but the most debated seat is the Worli Assembly seat. There is a direct contest between Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena UBT and Eknath Shinde’s Shiv Sena in the Worli Assembly seat. Although there is a direct competition between the two forces for many seats, the fight for the Worli seat is also special because Uddhav Thackeray’s own son Aditya Thackeray is in the election fray from here, against whom Shinde’s army has deployed to former Union Minister and Rajya Sabha. MP Milind Deora.
Why Milind in front of Aditya?
Ever since Eknath Shinde’s party announced the name of its candidate from Worli seat, the discussion continues on why Milind Deora versus Aditya. Shiv Sena (Shinde) could have also opted for some other face. After all, what is the strategy of Eknath Shinde’s Shiv Sena? This can be understood in five points.
1- Deora’s face is not new for Worli
Milind Deora has been an MP from Mumbai South Lok Sabha seat. The Worli assembly seat also falls under the Mumbai South Lok Sabha seat, which is considered the stronghold of the Deora family. Although the format of the elections is different, Milind Deora’s face is not new in the Worli seat. In the recent Lok Sabha elections too, the party had appointed Milind Deora in charge of this seat.
2- Trying to get the upper hand in the battle of perception
Milind Deora’s candidature against Aditya Thackeray is also linked to the ongoing war of perceptions between the parties of Eknath Shinde and Uddhav Thackeray. By fielding Milind Deora, Shiv Sena (Shinde) has not only given the message that it is contesting strongly in the elections against Thackeray, but it is also clear that the party has presented its strongest face at the local level, which is politics national. He has also been active, he has been a Union Minister. Aditya Thackeray is contesting elections for the second time. In such a situation, Shiv Sena (Shinde) tries to gain the upper hand in the battle of perception through Deora’s face.
3- Strategy to entangle Thackeray family in one seat
Eknath Shinde’s strategy could also be to entangle the Thackeray family in a single seat. Due to the strong candidate and big face against Aditya Thackeray, the Thackeray family may have to spend more time in this prestigious seat. The Konkan region has been a strong stronghold of the Shiv Sena and Mumbai and Thane are also located in this region. Since the rebellion in the Shiv Sena, the Thackeray family’s emphasis has been on cornering Shinde in their Thane stronghold. Now Shinde’s strategy could be to entangle the Thackeray family in Worli’s own assembly constituency.
Also Read: Maharashtra elections: Shinde faction releases list of 20 candidates, fields Milind Deora against Aditya Thackeray
4- Trying to set the tune of Mahim’s Worli
Eknath Shinde’s party first announced Milind Deora’s candidature from Worli seat and then came Mumbai BJP president Ashish Shelar’s statement that we should support Raj Thackeray’s son Amit. Amit Thackeray is contesting from the Mahim Assembly seat from where Shinde’s party has fielded MLA Sada Saravankar. Shinde’s party has not said anything clear about whether or not to withdraw the candidate against Amit, but it is believed that the party may do so.
Also Read: Maharashtra: Raj Thackeray met CM Eknath Shinde and discussed Dadar-Mahim and Worli seats.
There are two arguments behind this. One is that Mahim’s seat is near Worli. Raj Thackeray’s party, Maharashtra Navnirman Sena, has a strong base in the Worli assembly constituency. In the last elections, Raj’s party had staunchly supported Aditya Thackeray, but Shiv Sena UBT fielded a candidate against Amit Thackeray. In such a situation, if Shinde’s party withdraws its candidate in support of Amit, then the party can benefit from it in Worli. Secondly, this move by Shinde’s party may also send a message that their enmity is only with Uddhav Thackeray and not the Thackeray family.
5- Worli is important in the fight between the real and fake Shiv Sena.
There is a fight between the parties of Uddhav Thackeray and Eknath Shinde between the real and fake Shiv Sena. The Worli seat has become important in this fight between the real and fake Shiv Sena. Whatever the results of the remaining seats, if the Shiv Sena (Shinde) defeats Aditya Thackeray in the Worli battle, it will also be a big blow to the Thackeray family. The victory in Worli will play a decisive role in the battle between the real and fake Shiv Sena and perhaps this is also one of the reasons why Shinde’s party has focused on the Worli strategy.
