Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray took a swipe at Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Monday, reviving his famous 2019 election slogan “Mi Punha Yein” (I will return) while welcoming new members into his party from Nashik.
Former BJP corporator Sangita Gaikwad and her supporters joined the UBT Sena at Matoshree, where Uddhav addressed them, declaring, “Mi Punha Yein — and I will hoist the saffron flag once again over Nashik Municipal Corporation.”
The remark was widely seen as a jibe at Fadnavis, who used the same slogan during the 2019 Assembly elections, only to face ridicule after the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) formed the government. Although mocked for his confident declaration, Fadnavis made a strong political comeback, returning as chief minister in 2024 after the BJP won 132 Assembly seats.
Urging party workers to begin preparations for the upcoming civic polls, Uddhav said the Sena must reclaim Nashik — once a Shiv Sena stronghold. In the 2017 Nashik Municipal Corporation (NMC) elections, the BJP had secured a simple majority for the first time, winning 66 out of 122 seats.
The NMC’s five-year term ended in 2022, but elections were delayed due to an OBC reservation case. With the Supreme Court now directing that all local body polls be completed by January 31, 2026, both ruling and opposition parties have gone into campaign mode.
Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut, who oversees the party’s affairs in Nashik and North Maharashtra, told mid-day: “A few more former BJP corporators are in touch with us and have expressed their willingness to join the Sena. We’re confident of further strengthening our base in Nashik.”
Cracks show in Mahayuti alliance
As local body polls draw near, tensions within the ruling Mahayuti alliance — comprising the BJP, Eknath Shinde’s Shiv Sena, and Ajit Pawar’s NCP — are widening across Maharashtra. Except for Mumbai, leaders in Thane, Kalyan-Dombivli, Navi Mumbai, Nashik, Pune, Jalgaon, Konkan, Vidarbha, and Marathwada have hinted at contesting solo. This unrest comes despite repeated assurances from CM Devendra Fadnavis and both Deputy CMs, Eknath Shinde and Ajit Pawar, that the alliance would contest jointly — barring a few exceptions.
