The recent reunion of Uddhav Thackeray and Raj Thackeray marks far more than a family truce after two decades of rivalry. It is an event loaded with symbolism, electoral arithmetic, organisational repositioning and narrative politics. For the Bharatiya Janata Party, which has steadily expanded its footprint in Maharashtra by exploiting divisions within the Shiv Sena ecosystem, this development introduces uncertainty — not necessarily because it guarantees a sweeping shift in votes, but because it complicates the BJP’s strategy at multiple levels simultaneously.

Reclaiming Marathi Asmita: A Narrative Challenge for BJP;

The first and most visible fallout concerns the consolidation of Marathi asmita politics. Historically, the Shiv Sena created — and owned — the space of Marathi pride fused with an assertive brand of Hindutva. When Raj broke away to form the MNS and Uddhav retained the main organisation, the political field fragmented. That fragmentation created opportunities for the BJP to expand in Mumbai and other urban centres, positioning itself as the more disciplined, national force while drawing from the same cultural well. With the two cousins now signalling unity, the BJP confronts a reinvigorated narrative — one that reclaims the ownership of Marathi identity and seeks to portray the Thackerays as authentic heirs of that sentiment. Even if votes do not immediately shift en-masse, narrative terrain matters. The BJP now has to fight harder for emotional legitimacy in constituencies where symbolism often outweighs dry policy debate.

Stakes High around the BMC and Urban Power;

The second dimension of fallout lies in the civic and organisational arena. The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation, long the Sena’s power domain , is both financial and psychological territory. For the BJP, breaking the Sena’s hold on the BMC has always had strategic value: weakening the rival’s grassroots patronage network and........

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