{"id":13655,"date":"2025-09-18T08:17:29","date_gmt":"2025-09-18T08:17:29","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/tezgyan.com\/index.php\/2025\/09\/18\/every-election-an-acid-test-uddhav-thackeray-asks-shiv-sainiks-to-gear-up-for-civic-polls-politics-news\/"},"modified":"2025-09-18T08:17:29","modified_gmt":"2025-09-18T08:17:29","slug":"every-election-an-acid-test-uddhav-thackeray-asks-shiv-sainiks-to-gear-up-for-civic-polls-politics-news","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/tezgyan.com\/index.php\/2025\/09\/18\/every-election-an-acid-test-uddhav-thackeray-asks-shiv-sainiks-to-gear-up-for-civic-polls-politics-news\/","title":{"rendered":"&#8216;Every Election An Acid Test&#8217;: Uddhav Thackeray Asks Shiv Sainiks To Gear Up For Civic Polls | Politics News"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div id=\"story-9580392\">\n<p><span class=\"jsx-395e0e0beb19cb6e jsx-4143937483\">Last Updated:<\/span><time class=\"jsx-395e0e0beb19cb6e jsx-4143937483\">September 18, 2025, 13:42 IST<\/time><\/p>\n<h2 id=\"asubttl-9580392\" class=\"jsx-c9f81425ec968c48 jsx-590186898 asubttl-schema\">Thackeray said several leaders who had shifted to Eknath Shinde camp were keen to return but made it clear that the future of the rebels lay in the hands of the party\u2019s workers<\/h2>\n<div class=\"jsx-c3a4b7af90a1cd78 artsharwrp\"><a href=\"https:\/\/news18.co\/gnps-en-btn\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"jsx-91f4da8d48c13a79 gglebtn bgsky\"\/><\/p>\n<div id=\"artshare\" class=\"jsx-c3a4b7af90a1cd78 artshare\">\n<div class=\"jsx-c3a4b7af90a1cd78 stickdiv\">\n<div class=\"jsx-c3a4b7af90a1cd78 deskwrapstkdiv\">\n<div class=\"jsx-c3a4b7af90a1cd78 fontchange\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/images.news18.com\/dlxczavtqcctuei\/news18\/static\/images\/english\/font.svg\" height=\"30px\" width=\"30px\" alt=\"font\" title=\"font\" class=\"jsx-c3a4b7af90a1cd78 lazyload\"\/><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<figure class=\"jsx-c9f81425ec968c48 jsx-590186898 amimg\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Uddhav Thackeray also accused the ruling Mahayuti government of targeting him personally instead of addressing public issues. (PTI)\" title=\"Uddhav Thackeray also accused the ruling Mahayuti government of targeting him personally instead of addressing public issues. (PTI)\" src=\"https:\/\/images.news18.com\/ibnlive\/uploads\/2021\/07\/1627283897_news18_logo-1200x800.jpg?impolicy=website&amp;width=400&amp;height=225\" loading=\"eager\" fetchpriority=\"high\" class=\"jsx-c9f81425ec968c48 jsx-590186898\"\/><\/p>\n<p>Uddhav Thackeray also accused the ruling Mahayuti government of targeting him personally instead of addressing public issues. (PTI)<\/p>\n<\/figure>\n<p id=\"0\" class=\"story_para_0\">Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray on Tuesday tried to lift the spirits of his party workers, reminding them that every election they have fought since the late 1990s has been a tough battle, yet they have managed to win through unity and determination.<\/p>\n<p id=\"1\" class=\"story_para_1\">Speaking at a meeting of branch heads and party office-bearers in Mumbai, Thackeray said the upcoming civic polls would once again test their strength and resolve. With a mix of encouragement and caution, he set the tone for the party\u2019s election campaign, urging Shiv Sainiks to work on the ground with confidence and faith in their ability to win.<\/p>\n<p id=\"2\" class=\"story_para_2\">According to sources, Thackeray took direct aim at leaders who shifted to deputy chief minister Eknath Shinde\u2019s camp during the split in 2022. He said many of them are now feeling disappointed and suffocated in their new political home and had started sending messages about returning. \u201cThey say they are being pushed aside, that they are not getting space,&#8221; he told the gathering. But Thackeray was firm that such returns would not be automatic. \u201cTheir places are now taken by loyal Shiv Sainiks. Tickets are no longer available for them. If they come back at all, it will only be with your consent,&#8221; he said, making it clear that the future of the rebels lay in the hands of the party\u2019s grassroots workers.<\/p>\n<p id=\"3\" class=\"story_para_3\">Shifting the conversation back to election preparations, Thackeray called the coming polls an \u201cacid test&#8221; for his leadership and the party. He recalled that when Shiv Sena started contesting municipal elections under him in 1997, every election was labelled a test of survival. \u201cBut time and again, with your support and people\u2019s trust, we managed to prove ourselves,&#8221; he said.<\/p>\n<p id=\"4\" class=\"story_para_4\">Thackeray reminded the gathering how the party once reached 103 seats, crediting that success entirely to the hard work of ordinary Shiv Sainiks. He urged them to take the same spirit to the voters this time, by speaking about the development work done during Sena\u2019s tenure and by focusing on local issues that matter to citizens. \u201cGo to the people with confidence. Tell them what we have done and how it has changed their lives. That is our strength,&#8221; he said.<\/p>\n<p id=\"5\" class=\"story_para_5\">Thackeray also accused the ruling Mahayuti government of targeting him personally instead of addressing public issues. He alleged that recent rallies of the alliance made it clear that their main goal was to finish the Thackeray brand. \u201cThey are not attacking Congress or NCP. Their only target is Uddhav Thackeray,&#8221; he said.<\/p>\n<p id=\"6\" class=\"story_para_6\">Calling the election a fight not just for seats but also for identity and credibility, he appealed to his workers to approach the contest with calm determination. He asked them to begin ground-level work immediately, strengthen their bond with voters, and prepare to face the campaign with the unity and discipline that has carried the party through in the past.<\/p>\n<p id=\"7\" class=\"story_para_7\">The Shiv Sena, which has dominated the Mumbai municipal corporation for over 20 years, will face a bigger challenge this time as the party has split and most of the corporators are with the Shinde-led Shiv Sena. As per sources, Uddhav Thackeray is conducting meetings related to BMC polls everyday with his party leaders and one such meeting happened late on Tuesday evening with party branch heads and office bearers. On Thursday, the former chief minister is likely to meet Shiv Sena UBT\u2019s Mumbai unit\u2019s women wing\u2019s leaders, take stock of the situation, and further guide them about the election.<\/p>\n<p id=\"8\" class=\"story_para_8\">Shiv Sena has always relied on its network of grassroots party workers who conduct door-to-door campaign for the party. This time too, Uddhav Thackeray has shown faith in his grassroots workers and asked them to reach out to people with the work they have done.<\/p>\n<div class=\"jsx-95088aad1b3c53cd atawrap\">\n<div class=\"jsx-95088aad1b3c53cd atadetailwrp\">\n<div class=\"jsx-95088aad1b3c53cd ataname\"><span class=\"jsx-95088aad1b3c53cd atthumb\"><\/p>\n<figure class=\"jsx-95088aad1b3c53cd\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Mayuresh Ganapatye\" title=\"Mayuresh Ganapatye\" src=\"https:\/\/images.news18.com\/ibnlive\/uploads\/2025\/08\/WhatsApp-Image-2025-08-07-at-15.42.58-2025-08-ac8acdf6efa9a600b33e598461d25285.jpeg?impolicy=website&amp;width=60&amp;height=60\" class=\"jsx-95088aad1b3c53cd\"\/><\/figure>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"jsx-95088aad1b3c53cd attitle\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.news18.com\/byline\/mayuresh-ganapatye-25237.html\" class=\"jsx-95088aad1b3c53cd atamail\">Mayuresh Ganapatye<\/a><\/p>\n<p>Mayuresh Ganapatye, News Editor at News18.com, writes on politics and civic issues, as well as human interests stories. He has been covering Maharashtra and Goa for more than a decade. Follow him at @mayuganapa&#8230;<span class=\"jsx-95088aad1b3c53cd aurpdebtn\">Read More<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>Mayuresh Ganapatye, News Editor at News18.com, writes on politics and civic issues, as well as human interests stories. He has been covering Maharashtra and Goa for more than a decade. Follow him at @mayuganapa&#8230;<!-- --> <span class=\"jsx-95088aad1b3c53cd aurpdebtn\">Read More<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"jsx-c9f81425ec968c48 jsx-590186898 atbtlink fp\"><span>First Published:<\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"rs\">\n<p>September 18, 2025, 13:42 IST<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"jsx-c9f81425ec968c48 jsx-590186898 brdcrmb\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.news18.com\/\">News<\/a>  <a href=\"https:\/\/www.news18.com\/politics\/\">politics<\/a>  <span class=\"brdout\"> &#8216;Every Election An Acid Test&#8217;: Uddhav Thackeray Asks Shiv Sainiks To Gear Up For Civic Polls<\/span><\/div>\n<div id=\"coral-wrap\" class=\"jsx-ba4d8f086a12294f \">\n<div class=\"jsx-ba4d8f086a12294f coral-cont\">\n<div class=\"jsx-ba4d8f086a12294f coltoptxt\">Disclaimer: Comments reflect users\u2019 views, not News18\u2019s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our <a href=\"https:\/\/www.news18.com\/disclaimer\/\" class=\"jsx-ba4d8f086a12294f\">Terms of Use<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.news18.com\/privacy_policy\/\" class=\"jsx-ba4d8f086a12294f\">Privacy Policy<\/a>.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><span class=\"jsx-c9f81425ec968c48 jsx-590186898 rmbtn news18_read_more\">Read More<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><br \/>\n<br \/><a href=\"https:\/\/www.news18.com\/politics\/every-election-an-acid-test-uddhav-thackeray-asks-shiv-sainiks-to-gear-up-for-civic-polls-ws-kl-9580392.html\">Source link <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Last Updated:September 18, 2025, 13:42 IST Thackeray said several leaders who had shifted to Eknath Shinde camp were keen to return but made it clear that the future of the rebels lay in the hands of the party\u2019s workers Uddhav Thackeray also accused the ruling Mahayuti government of targeting him personally instead of addressing public&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":13656,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[48],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-13655","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-politics"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/tezgyan.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13655","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/tezgyan.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/tezgyan.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tezgyan.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tezgyan.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=13655"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/tezgyan.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13655\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tezgyan.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/13656"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/tezgyan.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=13655"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tezgyan.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=13655"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tezgyan.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=13655"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}