The comeback challenge: Uddhav Thackeray's relevance in post-election Maharashtra

History shows that it is unwise to write off a politician based on a single political debacle. Indian politics is replete with examples of defeated leaders making remarkable comebacks to reestablish their authority. For Uddhav Thackeray, the setback in the Vidhan Sabha elections is undoubtedly hard to digest, but the critical question before him is how to stay relevant in Maharashtra politics.

Until the eve of the Vidhan Sabha election results, leaders of the Shiv Sena (UBT) and Congress were publicly debating over who would assume the Chief Minister's position if the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) secured a majority. However, the results revealed that none of the MVA constituents secured the required 28 seats to claim even the Leader of Opposition post in the Vidhan Sabha. Uddhav’s Shiv Sena, which won the most seats in the MVA (20), still falls short by eight.

Uddhav’s political trajectory reflects his ability to navigate crises since assuming leadership of the Shiv Sena in 2003. He has endured rebellions from leaders like Narayan Rane and Raj Thackeray. In 2009, Raj Thackeray’s MNS emerged as a significant threat to the Shiv Sena, even being dubbed the "new Shiv Sena." Despite the 2022 rebellion led by Eknath Shinde, Uddhav remained resilient, performing well in the last Lok Sabha elections despite losing the party’s official name and symbol. However, the recent Vidhan Sabha debacle has jeopardized his party's existence.

Political analysts believe Uddhav must address several issues to restore his party's relevance. His strategy of portraying himself as a victim of betrayal and branding Shinde and his allies as traitors has not resonated with voters. He didn’t get their sympathy as expected. Similarly, the narrative accusing the Mahayuti government of favoring Gujarat over Maharashtra failed to gain traction.