Shiv Sena reunion on the cards? BJP’s growing clout sparks calls for unity

Is the bitter split that tore the Shiv Sena apart in 2022 beginning to come full circle? Remarks from leaders in both the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena and Uddhav Thackeray’s Sena (UBT) have reignited talk of a possible reunion, with an unlikely shared concern driving the conversation: the BJP’s growing dominance in Maharashtra politics.

Also read | BMC election: Did Marathi manoos gamble backfire for Thackerays?

In a significant political signal, senior leaders from the rival Sena factions have publicly argued that the BJP is steadily weakening both parties and eroding their traditional support base. While there is no indication yet of formal reunification talks between Shinde and Thackeray, the rare convergence of views has raised fresh questions about whether the two camps could eventually find common ground against a party they increasingly see as a threat to their political survival.

Calls for Sena unity

Talk of a reunion gathered pace after senior leaders from both camps openly backed the idea of bringing the two Shiv Sena factions together. Sena (UBT) leader Ambadas Danve said he had often felt that the two sides should reunite, while Shiv Sena (Shinde) leader Abdul Sattar went a step further, saying there would be no delay if Eknath Shinde decided to pursue such a move.

Sattar, a former minister, said “this is the time to unite”, arguing that there was little point in continuing the alliance with the BJP if the party was steadily weakening its allies. His remarks were notable given that the Shinde-led Shiv Sena remains a constituent of the BJP-led governments in Maharashtra and at the Centre.

Sattar accused the BJP of systematically weakening the Shinde-led Shiv Sena by encroaching on its political turf, claiming the party had already lost control of key local bodies such as the Zilla Parishad and Municipal Corporation. “Our own ally (BJP) is trying to ‘decapitate’ the Shiv Sena… The BJP has already broken our arms and legs and is now trying to chop off our heads,” Sattar told reporters in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, where his son, Sameer Sattar, was an aspirant for the Legislative Council seat, but the BJP fielded its own candidate, Suhas Shirsat, instead. Subsequently, Sameer Sattar filed his nomination as a rebel candidate.

Sattar likened the BJP's approach to a “slow poison”, saying his faction had left Uddhav Thackeray and aligned with the BJP only to find itself facing a similar predicament. Despite being part of the ruling alliance, he said Shiv Sena (Shinde) leaders were being sidelined and complained that local BJP leaders were increasingly treating them with disregard.

United by BJP fears

Danve pointed to the Aurangabad-Jalna constituency as evidence of the BJP’s growing dominance, noting that seats traditionally contested by the undivided Shiv Sena had slipped from its grasp. Comparing the BJP to a “big fish swallowing small fish”, he alleged that the party was systematically weakening both the Shiv Sena and the NCP.

Arguing that the BJP views the Shiv Sena as more than just a political rival, Danve said its goal was to finish off the party altogether. In an apparent swipe at Shinde's 2022 rebellion, he added that those who split the undivided Sena must now be realising that the BJP is working to marginalise the Shinde-led faction as well.

Danve suggested that Shinde could visit the Thackeray family residence, Matoshree, for direct talks to find a way forward. However, he maintained a sharp stance, asserting that there is only one true Shiv Sena rooted in Balasaheb Thackeray's ideology and led by Uddhav Thackeray. He dismissed the rival faction as a “gang of traitors” and said they must approach Thackeray if they want a merger.

Raut opens the door

The Sena (UBT) leadership appeared keen to capitalise on the growing unease within the rival camp. On Tuesday, Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Raut said leaders who had sided with Shinde during the 2022 rebellion should return to Uddhav Thackeray’s party if they regretted their decision.

Referring to complaints about the BJP's treatment of its allies, Raut said those who felt they had been misled or had made a mistake were welcome to come back. However, he also made it clear that not everyone would be accommodated, indicating that some leaders may find the path back to the party closed.

Bitterness still remains

Despite the renewed talk of unity, sharp differences between the two camps remain unresolved. Raut accused the BJP of engineering the split in the undivided Shiv Sena because it could not accept being the junior partner in the alliance. He also questioned the legitimacy of the Shinde-led faction, describing it as a product of decisions taken by the Election Commission.

Also read | Thackeray cousins vow to continue Marathi identity politics despite BMC defeat

The Shiv Sena split in 2022 when Shinde led a rebellion against Uddhav Thackeray, triggering the collapse of the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government in Maharashtra and a prolonged legal and political battle over the party’s name and symbol.

Sena (UBT) spokesperson Sushma Andhare also took aim at Shinde camp leaders, saying they had chosen power despite knowing the BJP’s intentions. “We knew from the very beginning that the BJP is slow poison... But Sattar Bhai, you were helpless because you wanted power,” she said.

The exchanges underscored the deep mistrust that continues to define relations between the two factions, suggesting that while the idea of reunification is being discussed more openly, any actual rapprochement remains a distant prospect.