Edmund Burke, the father of modern conservatism, once commented: “The whole government, in fact, every human benefit and enjoyment, each virtue and each prudent act, is based on commitment and bartering.” Few in contemporary Indian politics have embodied this more than UDDHAV Thakeray. To become the main minister of Maharashtra, he drastically remodeled his policy, cutting the bonds with the BJP and forging an unlikely alliance with Congress and the PNC. However, with his group, his iconic symbol, and much of his painting now firmly under the control of Eknath Shinde, many believe that the soft and modern Thakeray Sion is running out of options.
Kunal Kamra’s controversy
Comedian Kunal Kamra, known for his sharp political satire, recently found himself in the center of a political storm about his parody songs aimed at CM Eknath Shinde, among others. Without explicitly naming Shinde, Kamra He referred to him as a gaddar (traitor) in a parody of the song Bholi Si Surarat. Maybe in an attempt to provoke, the video on YouTube uploaded.
The reaction was rapid: Shiv Sena’s paintings looted Habitat, the place where Kamra acted, and promised serious consequences if the comedian did not change his paths. The reaction seemed to have a higher level sanction, with Eknath Shinde stating that while the satire is understood: “there must be limits.” CM Devendra Fadnavis also indicated that legal measures would be taken against Kamra.
As expected, the Uddhav Thackeray faction defended the comedian, suddenly extolling the virtues of tolerance, despite its own pictures. Mla Aaditya Thackeray labeled Shinde as an “insecure coward” for reacting to a song, while Uddhav declared bluntly that “calling a traitor a traitor is not an attack against anyone.”
UDDHAV’s political struggles
Uddhav’s anguish is understandable. His decision to align with Congress and the PNC in 2019 marked a seismic ideological change. However, the BJP had the last laugh, engineering a division in the SHIV Sena in 2022 and installing Eknath Shinde as prime minister. While the Uddhav faction and the MVA Alliance surprised the NDA in the Lok Sabha elections, winning 30 of 48 seats, its joy was of short duration when the Mahayuti recovered spectacularly, ensuring more than 80% of the seats of the Assembly.
However, it is only now that Shinde seems to have consolidated his control over the range and archive of Sena. He Kunal Kamra The episode has almost served as a rite of initiation, with the Shinde faction hugging the tactics of street force that once defined Shiv Sena de Balasaheb Thackeray. The will of the party to “teach a lesson” to a celebrity to cross a perceived Lakshman Rekha dates back to a previous era when the Seine dictated the ideological discourse through strong arm techniques.
Ironically, the man who now expresses solidarity with Kunal Kamra, even claiming to have the same DNA, had once threatened Shah Rukh Khan for defending the participation of Pakistani players in the IPL. Sanjay Raut had even asked Bollywood’s superstar to move to Karachi to play the Crick with Pakistanis while Shiv Sainiks violently protested against the actor that my name is Khan. While Uddhav confidant Sanjay Raut may have changed a new sheet, it is unlikely that Sena’s paintings will be so flexible.
Why UDDHAV options are limited
The veteran political journalist Deepak Lokhande offers a scathing analysis of the Uddhav situation. He argues that Uddhav is pushed to the corners: BJP has seized the ideological space, while the Shinde faction has the financial muscle. From Ganesh Naik to Narayan Rane, party pocket donors have defected. Even playing Marathi Manoos will show limited benefits, since Raj Thackeray has already built a brand around it.
In contrast to UDDHAV and Shinde leadership styles, Lokhande points out that the latter is much more generous to finance grassroots workers and stands out on the networks. He predicts that in the next municipal elections in Mumbai (BMC), Shiv Sena (UBT) can choose to go alone to start from a clean slate. However, given the long dominance of the party in BMC, the average mumbaikar could be reluctant to give them another chance. Meanwhile, despite sharing power in BMC for years, the BJP has successfully undone of the old Shiv Sena brand and is now in the pole position for a decisive victory.
Not everything is lost
Not everyone agrees with this gloomy prognosis. According to ADV. Ruben Mascarenhas, president of Mumbai who worked in the AAM AADMI party, “Uddhav Thakeray has been harmed. The BJP stole her party, her symbol and her mlasses. Its policy is that of decency, and has not been emptied by the political sale. Given the policy of competitive violence followed by Shinde Sena and BJP, it has not been accessible by the time of the people. Maharashtra realizes that the ruling regime must show the door. “
Ruben believes that Shinde Sena was surpassed by the BJP, which used Aurengzeb’s problem to divert attention from governance failures. He states that the BJP has been giving Eknath Shinde the cold shoulder, forcing him to choose an easy goal like Kunal Kamra. It also alleges that the police remained mute spectators during vandalism and cites the rapid action of BMC against the place of Kamra as an example of the “priorities out of place of the incompetent Government Devendra Fadnavis”.
Mascarenhas further criticizes the management of the law and the order of Fadnavis, pointing out the recent disturbances and violence of Nagpur in Mumbai. According to a PTI report that quotes police sources, Maharashtra has witnessed more than 800 communal incidents in only three months of 2025, which suggests a strong deterioration in law and order in one of the most prosperous states in India.
National paper for UDDHAV?
The political commentator and former leader of the Congress, Sanjay Jha, offers a different perspective with respect to the future of Uddhav. He sees Uddhav’s change towards a “secular” image as an opportunity to reinvent himself as a national leader. Jha suggests that Uddhav could remodel Shiv Sena’s ideology to defend an inclusive Hindutva that aligns with the secular tissue of India. This, he argues, could attract a new voter base while retaining old supporters.
JHA is also optimistic about the future of Aaditya Thakeray, seeing the change of ideological brand as the first step to build a new nucleus for the party. He urges Congress to demonstrate his worth as a worthy ally by sending Rahul Gandhi and other leaders to Maharashtra in support of Kamra, reinforcing MVA’s commitment to face BJP.
However, Lokhande is still skeptical, noting that both Rahul and Aaditya suffer what he calls the “urban leader situation”, a disconnection with rural voters due to the lack of basic experience. It also highlights how Rahul Kanal, who led the protest against Kunal Kamra, was once a reliable assistant from Aaditya, but now has changed sides. The excess of confidence after the Lok Sabha elections and Mahayuti’s cash schemes for women finally tipped the assembly elections in favor of the BJP, according to veteran journalist.
The way ahead
For now, the Shinde faction does not show signs of setback. Thane’s deputy, Naresh Mhash, has openly threatened Kamra, stating that the comedian “will not be allowed to wander freely in Maharashtra and India.” Some SENA leaders have even accused Kamra of being on the Uddhav payroll. Kamra’s problem can soon explode, but puts a marker on the type of policy that the ruling regime probably does in the future.
Meanwhile, the archives of the dysha death case have reopened at the request of their father. Salian, the former manager of Sushant Singh Rajput, died only six days before the actor’s suicide. The names of Fir Aaditya Thackeray, among others, adding legal problems to the existing political battles of the Thakeray family.
Can the Thakerays climate this storm and position yourself as the dominant force for anti-bjp voters? The jury is in it.