Thane: In Thane city, which once gave undivided Shiv Sena its first share of power and muscle, the political contest is the ultimate test of legitimacy for deputy CM Eknath Shinde. While a win in his home ground would validate Shinde’s claim as the “true heir” of Balasaheb Thackeray’s legacy, a defeat could further diminish the presence of Shiv Sena (UBT), which is already struggling for relevance here.Thane’s political churn mirrors its urban transformation. Once a quiet suburb, the city began changing at the turn of the century as spiralling property prices in Mumbai pushed developers and homebuyers northwards. The widening of Ghodbunder Road, coupled with the conversion of industrial tracts into residential zones, fuelled rapid vertical growth. Its strategic position at Mumbai’s gateway attracted migrants from across Maharashtra and beyond, as well as upwardly mobile residents from distant suburbs seeking lifestyle upgrades in gated communities. But civic governance failed to keep pace with this expansion.
“From water supply and sewerage to waste management and public transport, the same set of deficiencies cuts across neighbourhoods,” said activist Dr Mahesh Bedekar. NCP (SP) MP Supriya Sule, at a rally, pointed to unresolved issues with water supply, roads and waste management despite crores being spent. A passenger rights activist said inadequate public transport and parking facilities have worsened congestion and stretched commute times. In upscale Hiranandani Estate, resident Lipson Paul said, “Despite being among the highest tax-paying areas, mosquito infestation, repeated road digging and poor public transport remain unresolved.” At the city’s far edge Diva, resident Ananda Patil said, “We still lack reliable drinking water and proper roads. Promised hospitals remain on paper, forcing us to depend on Dombivli for healthcare.”CM Devendra Fadnavis, at a recent visit, said solutions would become visible in the coming years. Shinde pointed to the city’s changing skyline as evidence of projects cleared during his tenure as CM. Thane continues to be a Sena citadel despite repeated attempts to weaken its grip. The party’s dominance was underlined in the 2017 civic polls, when it won 67 of 131 seats and elected a mayor on its own, a rarity in recent municipal contests. The grip tightened after Shinde’s 2022 rebellion as he absorbed rival leaders. Yet, the contest is not without risk. Observers said Shinde’s biggest challenge is to erase the “traitor” tag and reframe himself as the rightful successor to Balasaheb and the late Anand Dighe. “It is no coincidence that Sena has fielded its strongest candidates in core areas and aggressively inducted rivals,” said an analyst. MNS leader Avinash Jadhav, however, said voter fatigue over misgovernance could favour new faces fielded by the Sena (UBT)-MNS alliance. Sena (UBT)’s Rajan Vichare said voters were disillusioned by unfulfilled promises.
