Shivsena (UBT) MLA Bhaskar Jadhav. File
| Photo Credit: Emmanual Yogini
Eknath Shinde must show the courage to support Uddhav Thackeray in the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Bhaskar Jadhav said on Thursday (January 22, 2026), stirring a controversy.
“This is the birth centenary year of Balasaheb Thackeray. It is the right time for Sena’s saffron flag to fly high on the BMC. It was Balasaheb’s dream to see a Sena mayor. Eknath Shinde can gladly remain in power in the Centre and in the State with the BJP, but he must support Uddhav Thackeray in BMC,” he told The Hindu.
Shiv Sena (UBT) has 65 seats in BMC. Eknath Shinde has 29 seats. The magic figure for power in BMC is 114.
“He must show this courage. Had I been in Eknath Shinde’s place, I would have tolerated anything to come back to Uddhav Thackeray and to support him. I would have paid whatever price to take this step. I would have said that for the thoughts of Balasaheb Thackeray, any suffering is acceptable,” he said.
He challenged Mr. Shinde, saying if he considered himself a true Shiv Sainik, he should stand behind Mr. Thackeray.
When asked about it, Shiv Sena national spokesperson Shaina N.C. said, “That ship has sailed the same day in 2019, when Uddhav Thackeray gave up the ideology of Balasaheb Thackeray to sit with Congress, NCP. I don’t think they should recall that moment.”
Shiv Sena was split vertically after Eknath Shinde rebelled along with 40 MLAs of the Shiv Sena, bringing down the then Maha Vikas Aghadi government in the year 2022. He joined the BJP to form a government in Maharashtra. Since the split, the parties have been fighting a bitter battle in court about the ownership of the real inheritor of the party’s name and symbol. Eknath Shinde has since fought all the elections as an ally of the BJP. The BJP has called him a natural ally.
Published – January 22, 2026 10:53 pm IST
