Following a strong performance in the recent local body elections, Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde asserted that the public has settled the debate over which faction represents the "real" Shiv Sena. Shinde's faction, allied with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the Mahayuti coalition, secured a significant victory in the municipal council and nagar panchayat polls.

The Mahayuti alliance demonstrated a commanding lead, with the BJP emerging as the single largest party. Shinde's Shiv Sena also performed strongly, leading in more local bodies than the combined forces of the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA). Shinde highlighted Shiv Sena's "strike rate," emphasizing the party's effectiveness in securing wins in the contested seats. He noted that the Shiv Sena had crossed the halfway mark and secured the second position.

Shinde attributed the Mahayuti's success to their development-focused agenda and their commitment to addressing local issues. He contrasted this approach with the opposition, stating that voters had rejected leaders who were disconnected from the people and engaged in "opportunistic politics". Shinde took a dig at Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Uddhav Thackeray, suggesting that those who remained inactive were kept out of power by the voters. He further claimed that the electorate had clearly decided which faction represented the "real" Shiv Sena, emphasizing his party's adherence to the ideology of Balasaheb Thackeray.

The Deputy Chief Minister emphasized that the Shiv Sena's reach extended beyond Mumbai and Thane, reaching every household in the state. He also pointed out that even in areas where the party faced losses, the collective victory of the Mahayuti remained the priority. Shinde congratulated the voters and expressed his gratitude to the elected representatives, ministers, and MLAs. He sees the local body results as a "trailer" for the upcoming municipal elections scheduled for January 15. He expressed confidence that the Mahayuti alliance would repeat its success in the future.

Political observers suggest that Shinde has solidified his position within Maharashtra's political landscape. The results of these elections provide a definite advantage for Eknath Shinde as the state moves towards the next set of elections.