Wadala Ward Election Turmoil Settled as Shiv Sena (UBT) and MNS Join Forces Ahead of January 15 Polls

Mumbai, India, January 2026: With just days remaining before the January 15 elections for 29 local bodies, political activity in Wadala’s Ward 178 had come to an abrupt halt, not due to voter fatigue, but amid growing unrest within the alliance. The disruption stemmed from the decision to award the seat to the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS), leaving long-time Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Madhuri Manjrekar disappointed and local party workers frustrated.

Manjrekar, who visited the Wadala Shiv Sena branch on Thursday, expressed her dissatisfaction at being denied an election ticket despite her longstanding service and strong local following. For weeks, nearly everyone had expected her to contest the seat, especially after her contributions to reorganizing the Shiv Sena (UBT) unit in Wadala following former councilor Amey Ghole’s switch to Shinde’s Shiv Sena.

“On August 15 last year, party chief Uddhav Thackeray asked me to begin preparations for the municipal elections, and I immediately started working,” Manjrekar said. She took charge of all campaign arrangements, from renting LED vans and printing flags to completing all necessary documentation. Even after the ward was declared a general seat, she continued preparations, filling out all green forms and keeping documents ready—but never received the AB form until the last minute.

As uncertainty grew, local MNS workers approached her, indicating that their party would contest the ward. Manjrekar said she sought clarity from Shiv Sena leadership and even visited Matoshree, but returned without answers. She recalled that a similar situation had occurred in 2017 when she was denied a ticket. “I remained loyal then and I remain loyal now. I had hope this time, and once again, I have no answer,” she said.

The situation escalated when MNS candidate Bajrang Deshmukh filed his nomination, intensifying local anger. In response, public campaigning by both Shiv Sena (UBT) and MNS workers paused until Tuesday. After a seven-day lull, Manjrekar returned to the Shiv Sena office on Ganesh Mandir Path, greeted by jubilant workers with firecrackers—a symbolic end to the confrontation.

Deshmukh, who formally launched the joint campaign with Manjrekar, emphasized unity, saying, “We have come together for the benefit of Mumbai and the Marathi community. Madhuri Manjrekar’s presence gives me confidence that we will win.” Local Shiv Sena (UBT) worker Vishakha Jadhav acknowledged the resentment within the cadre but stressed that the decision to campaign jointly was made in the best interest of the ward. “There was anger when she didn’t get the ticket. But for Wadala and Thackeray, we decided to stand together,” she said.

Senior leaders Rakesh Deshmukh and Sandeep Kamble played a pivotal role in reintegrating Manjrekar into active campaigning. Speaking before officially flagging off the campaign, Rakesh Deshmukh noted the party’s support for women, stating, “The Sena has always stood for women. I hope no other female worker has to go through this.”

Outlining his priorities, Deshmukh highlighted redevelopment as a key focus. “Redevelopment is happening rapidly across Mumbai. But when it comes to Wadala village, no one is willing to take the lead,” he said. He also stressed job creation for women over “freebie politics” and promised to give the ward a distinct development identity.

With the joint campaign now underway, Shiv Sena (UBT) and MNS hope to turn past disagreements into a unified effort to secure victory in Ward 178, signaling the alliance’s determination to present a cohesive front to voters just days before the polls.