Today's BEST (Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport) Workers' Co-operative Credit Society election is being viewed as a crucial indicator of potential political alliances and voter sentiment ahead of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections. The most significant aspect of this election is the rare alliance between estranged cousins Uddhav Thackeray, chief of Shiv Sena (UBT), and Raj Thackeray, president of Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS).
The Shiv Sena (UBT) and MNS have decided to join forces for the BEST credit society election, a move that has generated considerable buzz in Maharashtra's political circles. This collaboration marks the first time the two parties have contested any election together, setting aside their past differences. The decision to unite was made on July 5, 2025, after a period of reconciliation between the cousins, ending two decades of estrangement.
The BEST Workers' Co-operative Credit Society election is particularly important due to its large membership and substantial financial influence. The society has around 15,000 voters and a turnover of ₹1,000 crore, directly impacting the welfare of its members through loans and welfare schemes. Approximately 60,000 voters, including the members' families, will participate in the election. A victory for the MNS-Sena (UBT) alliance would significantly boost the morale of party workers and positively influence public perception before the BMC elections.
The alliance between Shiv Sena (UBT) and MNS is seen as a strategic effort to consolidate Marathi votes, particularly amid concerns that the current government is pushing BEST operations towards privatization, potentially sidelining Marathi workers. According to a union leader, BEST has historically been a vital source of employment for the Marathi community.
The Shiv Sena (UBT)-MNS alliance, known as the 'Utkarsha panel,' will compete against a united front of labor unions and competing panels. This includes the Kamgar Utkarsha Sabha led by BJP MLC Prasad Lad and Pravin Darekar, Narayan Rane's Samartha Kamgar Sanghathana, Kiran Pawaskar's Rashtriya Karmachari Sena, Mahendra Salve's union for SC, ST, OBC, and VJNT employees, and the union of late RPI leader Manoj Sansare. While the BEST Kamgar Sena will contest 18 of the 21 seats, the MNS Kamgar Sena will contest two, and the BEST SC/ST Employees Welfare Association will contest one as part of the alliance.
Suhas Samant, president of the BEST Kamgar Sena, emphasized the significance of the alliance, stating that it sends a strong message of Marathi unity. Sandeep Deshpande, MNS Mumbai president, confirmed the seat-sharing arrangement, with MNS contesting two of the 21 seats.
Political observers believe that this alliance could pave the way for further collaboration between the two parties, especially for the upcoming BMC elections. Sanjay Raut, a Rajya Sabha member, indicated that Shiv Sena (UBT) and MNS might contest elections together in all nine corporations of the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR), besides other cities. This move is viewed as a broader effort to champion Marathi language and identity.
The outcome of today's BEST Credit Society election will serve as a litmus test for the Thackeray cousins, revealing whether the Marathi community in Mumbai supports their potential political alliance.
