Ladies and gentlemen, gather ‘round! We have a political showdown brewing in the glamorous streets of Worli—a place where dreams meet reality and, quite frankly, where many people get stuck in traffic thinking, “Is this progress?!”
In one corner, we have Milind Deora, the fresh face of the Shiv Sena’s Eknath Shinde faction, and in the other corner, the formidable Aaditya Thackeray, son of the former Chief Minister. Now, these are not just regular gentlemen having tea over biscuits; we’re talking about a battle for the heart of Worli—a place that seems to have more politics than potholes!
Now, Milind Deora claims he’s known Aaditya since “childhood.” I mean, who doesn’t play in the mud with their future political rivals? Quite endearing. But then, in classic political fashion, he proceeds to drop a bomb about the “speed breaker politics.” So, while the kids were playing, the political landscape was turning into a… well, speed bump bonanza!
Milind insists it’s not personal. Really, Milind? When campaigns heat up, that’s like saying reality TV isn’t about the drama. He went on to claim that the good people of Mumbai are “tired" of the snail-paced development. I can relate! Ever tried to buy milk on a Monday morning? Talk about a speed bump on your breakfast plans!
Deora, who recently decided to end a relationship with the Congress party after 55 years—one too many bad dates, I guess—now gets to spearhead the campaign to claim back what he sees as the Thackeray kingdom. But hold on to your seats because the battle for Worli is as complicated as a Mumbai local train schedule!
Aaditya Thackeray—the young lion of the Thackeray pride—won the 2019 election with a jaw-dropping 65% vote share. A feat so impressive that it makes me wonder if he used some sort of magical spell. But despite those strong numbers, it’s worth noting that life’s a bit like weather—you can never predict when it’s going to change! Especially when you throw the Maharashtra political scene into the mix with Raj Thackeray lurking around like a proverbial dark horse, ready to stir the pot.
In their games of political chess, Aaditya claims to have the love of the people behind him, exclaiming that he’s felt nothing but blessings. Well, I hope those blessings include a new parking strategy for Worli, because if I’ve learned one thing from Mumbai traffic, it’s that love can turn into rage quicker than you can say “election season.”
And while Milind paints a rosy picture of development under the Shinde government—complete with infrastructure that would make even a toddler on a tricycle feel like a Formula 1 driver—Aaditya is having none of it, branding the BJP a “party of hollow promises.” If that isn’t the political equivalent of throwing shade, I don’t know what is!
So who will bravely wear the crown of Worli? Will it be Milind and his “service is service” motto? Or will Aaditya, armed with his familial legacy and a hefty dose of public affection, make a resounding return?
As they say, it’s all about the people! And if you’re not aware by now, this article is just a teaser for what’s to come. Buckle up, folks; the ride is just getting started, and with election day on November 20 looming closer, you don’t want to miss a second of this show. The audience is in for a hilarious, dramatic spectacle worth every rupee spent on the front row seat… if only those seats weren’t so hard to come by!
Shiv Sena leader Milind Deora, the chosen candidate of the Eknath Shinde faction, is gearing up for a significant political contest as he aims to reclaim the Worli Assembly seat from Uddhav Thackeray’s faction. Deora sought to diminish the notion of a “personal” rivalry with Aaditya Thackeray, the son of the former Chief Minister, who decisively won the seat in the 2019 elections.
In a noteworthy statement, Deora mentioned his long-standing acquaintance with Aaditya Thackeray, expressing his intention to maintain a respectful perspective. However, he did not shy away from pointing out the perceived shortcomings in Aaditya and his party’s governance, emphasizing that the residents of the south Mumbai neighborhood are increasingly frustrated with what he termed “speed breaker politics,” which he argues is obstructing progress and development in the area.
At 47 years old, Milind Deora was appointed to the Rajya Sabha by the Sena earlier this year, shortly after severing a 55-year connection with the Congress party. His recent nomination as the party’s candidate for Worli sets the stage for what could be an intense electoral battle against Aaditya Thackeray.
“It is not a personal battle… I’ve known Aaditya Thackeray for a long time… But now I think people are tired of speed breaker politics,” Mr. Deora articulated during an interview with NDTV, criticizing the governance of the Thackeray-led Maha Vikas Aghadi alliance that held power until the significant rebellion in June 2022.
Mr. Deora underscored the visible improvements across Mumbai that are the result of the Shinde government’s initiatives, stating, “Whether you are an ordinary woman or someone using public transport… there is a huge spirit in infrastructure development.”
Shinde Sena leader Milind Deora spoke to NDTV,
The former Lok Sabha MP from Mumbai (South) highlighted the criticisms directed towards the Thackerays and opposition alliances, alleging a “fake narrative” aimed at undermining the ruling Mahayuti alliance, which comprises the BJP, Shinde-led Sena, and the NCP breakaway faction led by Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar. “The Maharashtra government has performed very well… whether it is for social welfare or infrastructure,” he stated confidently, predicting that voters would favor this government in the upcoming elections.
#WATCH | Maharashtra: On the performance of Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray as Worli MLA, Shiv Sena candidate from Worli Assembly seat Milind Deora says, “I don’t want to make it negative, but I certainly see that there are a lot of opportunities, a lot of shortcomings… pic.twitter.com/oP3lERDz9c
— ANI (@ANI) October 29, 2024
Mr. Deora expressed his motivations, stating, “I want to serve the people… to me, service is service.” He acknowledged his familiarity with the constituency, having previously represented the area, which he believes could provide him a tactical edge in the election. He is expected to formally submit his nomination papers later today.
The Worli Battle
Thackeray junior currently holds the Worli seat, historically a stronghold for Shiv Sena, and will be contesting alongside the other 287 Assembly constituencies in the state on November 20.
Although Worli has been a bastion for the Sena, it is also located within the Mumbai (South) Lok Sabha constituency, a territory traditionally associated with the Deora family. Initially belonging to the Thackeray Sena since 2014, the seat has seen political contestation since the NCP temporarily won in 2019.
Given Aaditya Thackeray’s impressive victory margin of 65 percent in the 2019 state elections, recovering this seat poses a substantial challenge for Deora. However, the recent Lok Sabha results indicated that while the Thackeray faction maintained overall control of Mumbai (South), they only secured a margin of less than 6,500 votes in Worli.
Despite the looming challenge, Aaditya Thackeray remains assured of his position, stating, “The people have realised the BJP is a party of hollow promises (and) will stand against Eknath Shinde,” as he led a significant rally Thursday while filing his nomination papers.
A Third Challenger?
Intriguingly, Raj Thackeray of the MNS might emerge as an unexpected contender in this contest. In the previous elections, his party forwent a candidate in Worli to honor Aaditya Thackeray’s entry into politics. However, the reduced margin from the recent Lok Sabha elections suggests a potential opportunity for MNS to gain traction. “In 2017, we bagged around 30,000 to 33,000 votes from Worli. We have voters dedicated to MNS here…” Mr. Deshpande explained to news agency PTI.
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