Bal Thackeray’s Legacy Outshone Film Stardom, But Uddhav Thackeray Could Not Hold Mumbai

Bal Thackeray, the towering figure of Maharashtra politics, built the Shiv Sena brand over six decades, commanding Mumbai’s political landscape with unmatched authority. Even Bollywood’s biggest stars—Dilip Kumar, Raj Kapoor, Amitabh Bachchan—stood in awe of his influence during the historic 1986 film industry strike, when Thackeray threatened a state-wide bandh to protect cinema workers’ rights, forcing the Congress government to back down.

Thackeray’s charisma extended beyond politics; he was regarded as a “political justice” in Mumbai, where businessmen, unions, and ordinary citizens sought his intervention. Despite internal party dissent over the years, from leaders like Chhagan Bhujbal and Narayan Rane to Raj Thackeray, the Shiv Sena founder maintained control, never compromising his political vision.

However, his successor Uddhav Thackeray has struggled to uphold this legacy. After taking charge following Bal Thackeray’s death in 2012, Uddhav altered the party’s ideology, downplayed aggressive Hindutva, and formed alliances with Congress and NCP. The results were stark: rebellions within the party, the dramatic split led by Eknath Shinde in 2022, and the recent BMC election defeat that saw even Mumbai, the historical stronghold, slip from the Shiv Sena’s grasp.

Political experts note that while the “Thackeray brand” has weakened under Uddhav, Bal Thackeray’s personal aura remains undiminished. Even today, supporters and opponents alike remember him as a towering figure in Mumbai politics—a leader whose influence continues to be felt decades after his death.