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In first message after poll debacle, the MNS chief said that he will analyse what went wrong in the elections and vowed to continue his fight for the Marathi people.
MNS Chief Raj Thackeray (PTI/File)
The Thackeray cousins — Raj and Uddhav Thackeray — on Saturday in their first response to the BMC poll debacle, vowed to stand firmly with the Marathi people and stated that the “battle isn’t over yet”.
Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray in his first statement following the poll failure, stated that the polls “weren’t an easy one” as it was the fight between tremendous money power and the power of authority against Shivshakti. The MNS chief further said that he will analyse what went wrong in the elections and vowed to continue his fight for the Marathi people.
Congratulating the elected corporators of MNS and Shiv Sena (UBT) in a social media post on X, Thackeray wrote, “This election was not an easy one. It was a battle of tremendous money power and the power of authority against Shivshakti. Yet even in such a fight, the workers of both parties gave an excellent battle. Can never praise them enough.”
“It is saddening that MNS did not achieve the expected success this time, but that does not mean we are the kind to lose heart and give up. Our corporators who have been elected will be more than a match for the ruling parties in their respective areas. And if they see anything happening against the interests of the Marathi people, they will certainly make life difficult for those in power,” he added.
The MNS chief further stated that he will continue his fight for the Marathi people, for the Marathi language, for Marathi identity, and for a prosperous Maharashtra. “This fight is our very existence. You are all aware that such battles are long-term,” he said.
As for what went wrong, what was left undone, what was lacking, and what needs to be done, we will all analyse and act upon it together,” Thackeray said, vowing his commitment for Marathi people.
सस्नेह जय महाराष्ट्र,सर्वप्रथम महाराष्ट्र नवनिर्माण सेना आणि शिवसेनेच्या निवडून आलेल्या सर्व नगरसेवकांचं मनापासून अभिनंदन. यावेळची निवडणूक ही सोपी नव्हती. अचाट धनशक्ती, सत्तेची शक्ती विरुद्ध शिवशक्ती अशी लढाई होती. पण अशा लढाईत सुद्धा दोन्ही पक्षाच्या कार्यकर्त्यांनी उत्तम…
— Raj Thackeray (@RajThackeray) January 17, 2026
‘Battle Not Over Yet…’: Uddhav Thackeray
Taking to X, Uddhav Thackeray wrote, “This battle is not over yet… It will continue just like this until the Marathi person receives the respect they deserve!”
ही लढाई अजून संपलेली नाही…मराठी माणसाला योग्य सन्मान मिळेपर्यंत अशीच सुरू राहील! pic.twitter.com/anLAhcZls5— ShivSena – शिवसेना Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray (@ShivSenaUBT_) January 17, 2026
Mahayuti Secures Resounding Victory
The Mayuti Alliance, led by the BJP, on Friday swept the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections by bagging 118 out of 227 seats.
In the BMC specifically, the BJP won 89 of the 227 seats, up from 82 in 2017, while the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena secured 29 seats. Together, the two allies crossed the majority mark of 114.
The Shiv Sena (UBT), led by Uddhav Thackeray, retained a substantial presence in Mumbai with 65 seats, though this was a drop from the 84 seats won by the undivided party in 2017, before the 2022 split.
January 17, 2026, 10:23 IST
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