Shiv Sena goes solo in Maharasthra polls to keep its house in order

The Shiv Sena’s decision to contest the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections alone is a political compulsion to keep its house in order and avert fissures that would have badly dented the leadership image of party President Uddhav Thackeray.

In the last 25 years of its alliance, the Shiv Sena has always played the role of big brother in the BMC elections. However, for the first time after the 2014 Lok Sabha and assembly elections which saw the BJP emerge as the leading party, the Sena has been relegated to the secondary position in Maharashtra. The Sena has been the ruling party in BMC for last 19 years.