Tensions flared in Maharashtra’s Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar as workers from the BJP and Shiv Sena (UBT) clashed on Monday. The scuffle broke out in front of the Rama Hotel, where Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray was staying during his two-day visit to the city. The altercation occurred after BJP members staged a protest against Thackeray’s visit.
As the situation escalated, police had to resort to a mild lathi charge to disperse the crowds and restore order. The confrontation was marked by loud sloganeering from both sides. BJP workers protested against Thackeray, recalling a recent incident where his supporters had demonstrated against Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his visit to Aurangabad. Shiv Sena (UBT) members responded in kind, leading to a physical altercation.
Aaditya Thackeray, who has been actively campaigning for the upcoming Maharashtra Legislative Assembly elections, is touring the region to build support. In the recent Lok Sabha elections, Thackeray narrowly lost the Mumbai North West seat to Shiv Sena’s Ravinder Waikar by just 48 votes.
The Maharashtra Assembly elections, which will be held across 288 constituencies, are expected to witness a heated contest between the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) coalition—comprising the Shiv Sena (UBT), Congress, and the Sharad Pawar-led NCP—and the Mahayuti alliance, which includes the BJP, Shiv Sena (Eknath Shinde faction), and the Ajit Pawar-led NCP faction. The Election Commission of India has yet to announce the poll dates.
In the recent Lok Sabha elections, the MVA alliance gained momentum by securing a combined tally of 30 seats, with Shiv Sena (UBT) winning nine, Congress securing 13, and the NCP-SP alliance taking eight. Meanwhile, the Mahayuti alliance faced setbacks, with the BJP winning only nine seats, Shiv Sena securing seven, and the NCP winning just one, bringing their total to 17 seats.
