Thackerays' Power Play: '10-Minute Shutdown Threat' Sparks BMC Poll Frenzy

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The Thackeray family's hold on Mumbai's politics is set to be put to the test in the upcoming Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) polls. Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut, an ally of Uddhav Thackeray, has claimed that the Thackerays can shut down the city in just 10 minutes if they choose to. This bold assertion comes as the Thackeray cousins, Uddhav and Raj, are campaigning together on the issue of Marathi pride ahead of the January 15 polls. Raut, who has been instrumental in their reunion, says that the Thackerays are a 'brand' that will survive, and with them, the Marathi identity. However, Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde's ally, Devendra Fadnavis, has dismissed Raut's claim as 'empty threats.' He believes that the Thackerays' influence has waned since the passing of Bal Thackeray and that they are no longer a force to be reckoned with. Uddhav Thackeray sees the BMC polls as a battle for survival, not just for his faction but for the Marathi people in Mumbai. He claims that every election is a battle for survival, and this one is no exception. The Thackeray cousins are campaigning together, and their combined strength is expected to play a significant role in the outcome of the polls. The BMC polls are being seen as a high-stakes battle, not just for the Thackeray cousins but for the future of Marathi pride in Mumbai. As the city prepares for the polls, one thing is clear: the Thackeray family's influence will be put to the test, and the outcome will have far-reaching implications for the city's politics and identity.