Uddhav Thackeray Speaks on Reunion With Raj Thackeray Ahead of BMC Polls

A special report on the upcoming Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections reveals key voter concerns and political dynamics. Survey data indicates that while 48.9% of NDA voters believe the Mahayuti's momentum from state elections will continue, the primary issues for citizens are local development, corruption, and the high cost of living in Mumbai. Analyst Yashwant Deshmukh offers a critical insight, stating, 'we have talked too much about the Thackeray brothers and Mr. Eknath Shinde, but we did not mention the main guy, Devendra Fadnavis... this is going to be one cracker of an election where he is going to prove that he carries the actual Marathi Manus mandates with him.' Other experts like Amitabh Tiwari and Shankar Aiyar note that the election will be a 'class fight', with the lower middle class feeling alienated over living costs, a sentiment the Thackeray brothers hope to capture.

In this special report, analysts discuss the current strength and relevance of the Thackeray political brand in Maharashtra. A key point of discussion is whether the brand has weakened, with data showing a split between NDA and opposition voters' perceptions. Analyst Yashwant Deshmukh argues that the brand faces two major problems. He states, 'Even bigger in terms of Shiv Sena's original launch and the way the Hindutva politics played out, was Uddhav Thackeray going with the Congress and diluting the part of the Hindutva from the Shiv Sena's branding.' Deshmukh suggests this move, while potentially attracting Muslim voters, risks alienating the core Hindutva-focused Shiv Sainiks. The discussion also covers the overemphasis on the 'Marathi Manus' issue at the expense of non-Marathi voters and how the political dynamics in Mumbai are shifting.

A special report analyzes the upcoming 2026 Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections, held after an eight-year interval. The analysis centers on a new alliance between Thackeray family factions and its potential impact on Mumbai's electoral arithmetic. An India Today-C Voter snap poll is dissected, revealing deep voter polarization between Marathi and non-Marathi communities and strong support among Marathi voters for the alliance. Panelists discuss the relevance of the Thackeray brand, the rightful inheritor between the Thackeray brothers and Eknath Shinde, and whether the Mahayuti's 2024 state election win provides momentum. The discussion also covers the role of Muslim voters, the city's changing demographics, and key issues set to drive voter decisions, including local development, corruption, and the cost of living in an election where identity politics are prominent.

On this Special Report, the focus is on a C-Voter snap poll for India Today analysing the battle for the Thackeray legacy in Maharashtra politics. The poll data suggests that Uddhav Thackeray is seen as the rightful inheritor of the brand over Eknath Shinde, even among NDA voters and fence-sitters. One analyst on the panel noted that when combining the support for the Thackeray brothers, 'it comes to almost 51%'. The discussion also delves into the complexities of the upcoming BMC elections, exploring how voting patterns differ for local, state, and national polls. Experts on the programme break down the crucial role of the Marathi-speaking community and the segmented voting behaviour of Mumbai's diverse Muslim population, highlighting the challenges and strategies for all political players.