BJP Triumphs Over Thackeray Coalition in BEST Society Polls

Mumbai, Aug 20 (PTI) - In a significant political contest, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) asserted its strength by defeating the Shiv Sena (UBT)-MNS coalition in the BEST Employees Cooperative Credit Society election, revealing a shift in political dynamics in the region. The BJP declared the defeat as a clear indication of where the Thackeray cousins currently stand politically, suggesting that the "Thackeray brand" has lost its influence.

In the election for the 21-member panel of the BEST Employees Cooperative Credit Society, held on Monday, the Sena (UBT)-MNS coalition, spearheaded by cousins Uddhav and Raj Thackeray, failed to secure any seat. This loss occurred despite speculations about their potential alliance for upcoming local body elections, including the prominent Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) polls.

Suhas Samant, president of the BEST Kamgar Sena aligned with Sena-UBT, expressed shock at the clean sweep against their candidates, attributing the loss to financial influences in the election process. On the other hand, Shashank Rao's panel, affiliated with the BJP, won a majority with 14 seats. Rao emphasized that the victory was a rejection of the Sena (UBT)-led group's perceived "anti-worker" policies.

The BJP credited its success to the support from Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Mumbai BJP head Ashish Shelar, who have historically backed BEST workers. BJP MLC Prasad Lad had heralded the 'Sahakar Samruddhi' panel, while Eknath Shinde's faction of the Shiv Sena also participated in the elections.

Prasad Lad took to social media platform X to highlight the BJP's triumph, mocking the "Thackeray brand" for not winning even a single seat. Maharashtra Minister and BJP leader Ashish Shelar described the victory as an encouraging sign for the party in Mumbai. He emphasized that despite the use of ballot papers, the BJP successfully resonated with voters, countering accusations of vote manipulation by political analysts.

The election outcome was also interpreted by BJP's state chief spokesperson, Keshav Upadhye, as a reflection of the diminishing influence of the Thackeray cousins. He noted that despite the coalition's confident approach, the cooperative society—once under Shiv Sena (UBT)'s control—faced a total defeat.

Upadhye asserted that the results indicate a trend favoring the BJP's development agenda over the sentimental politics of the Thackeray brothers, marking a significant shift in voter preference among Marathi people in Mumbai.

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