In seeking minority rapport, Uddhav-led Sena’s politics takes a more inclusive turn

As Muslims gravitate towards the Shiv Sena (UBT), the community’s support would prove crucial for Bal Thackeray’s son in his battle for legitimacy on the streets with the ruling Eknath Shinde-led Sena

Beleaguered Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Uddhav Thackeray is pinning his hopes on the Muslim community to shore up his party’s fortunes after the undivided Sena’s core support base split down the middle with Eknath Shinde’s revolt in June last year.

The Shinde-led Sena is on the ascendant after forming a coalition government in Maharashtra with the BJP, and with the Election Commission on February 17 allotting it the name ‘Shiv Sena’ and the party’s bow and arrow symbol. Forty of the 55 MLAs and 12 of the 19 Lok Sabha MPs from the Thackeray camp are now with the Shinde faction.

Also read: Muslim community recognises Uddhav Thackeray as leader of the real Shiv Sena, says Sanjay Raut  

While Mr. Thackeray awaits the Supreme Court’s verdict on a plea staking claim to the original party founded by his father, Bal Thackeray, the Shinde-led Sena and the BJP are straining every sinew to end the Thackeray clan’s 25-year stranglehold on the cash-rich Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation.

In the 2017 civic polls, the BJP — riding high on the ‘Narendra Modi wave’ — had snared 82 of the 227 seats, rattling the undivided Sena, which secured 97 seats. Muslim support could prove handy for Mr. Thackeray in the event of a close contest this time.

Also read: Sena vs Sena | Supreme Court is the ‘only ray of hope’, says Uddhav Thackeray

Muslims have steadily gravitated towards Mr. Thackeray over the past few years and view him as a moderate leader who does not use the Hindutva ideology to target minorities. For a party that played a major role in the 1993 anti-Muslim riots in Mumbai, the Thackeray-led Sena’s politics has come a long way.