MUMBAI: Shiv Sena (UBT) emerged ahead in the Sena vs Sena contest in Mumbai during the Lok Sabha and state assembly elections. Now the BMC election on Jan 15 is being seen as another key test between the rival Senas. With Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray and MNS chief Raj Thackeray joining forces, there will be a Sena (UBT) vs Eknath Shinde‘s Shiv Sena face-off in 69 seats.
Rival Senas contest 87 wards as BMC elections loom
In addition, Shinde’s Sena will take on MNS in 18 seats. Thus, Mumbai will see a Thackeray vs Shinde face-off in 87 wards.
Observers say the polls will determine not only which group commands the Sena legacy in Mumbai, but also test the popularity of the “Thackeray brand”.Of 227 BMC electoral seats, Sena (UBT) will take on BJP in 97 seats. Unlike the Lok Sabha and assembly elections, many of the civic contests will be triangular as Congress and NCP are not part of either alliance. In the assembly polls, Sena (UBT) and Shinde’s Sena clashed in 10 Mumbai seats, with Sena (UBT) winning seven. For the BMC polls, Sena (UBT) is contesting 163 seats and MNS 53. BJP is fighting on 137, and Shinde’s Sena 90. BJP and MNS will face each other in 35 seats. Mahayuti will face NCP (SP) in 8 seats.
