MUMBAI — With parties busy chalking out electoral strategies ahead of the Maharashtra assembly elections, Sanjay Nirupam, a prominent leader from the Shiv Sena (Shinde faction), has stirred the hornet’s nest by backing the demand for a significant representation of Muslim candidates in the Shiv Sena faction of Uddhav Thackeray. This comes after All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) and Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind (JUH) urged Thackeray to allocate tickets to Muslim candidates in the upcoming elections.

In a post on his social media platform X (formerly Twitter), Nirupam expressed his support for the demand: “More than 50 percent of the candidates of Shiv Sena (UBT) should be Muslim, because if Muslims had not voted in the Lok Sabha elections, not a single candidate of Shiv Sena (UBT) would have won. The same is going to happen in the assembly elections as well. Shiv Sena (UBT) has abandoned Hindutva and Marathi-speaking voters have gone away from them.”

This statement underscores the growing influence of Muslim voters within the Uddhav Thackeray-led faction of the Shiv Sena. Following the Lok Sabha elections, where Uddhav’s faction did not secure the expected support from Hindus and Marathi-speaking voters, there has been a noticeable shift in strategy. Thackeray’s recent engagements with Muslim leaders and his public commitment to safeguarding Waqf properties have further solidified the community’s confidence in his leadership.

“Uddhav Thackeray has promised to give full support to Muslims in the Waqf Board property case,” said a source close to the party. “He has clearly stated that no one can touch the Waqf property, and he has also indicated that his party will oppose the Waqf Amendment Bill.”

This stance is believed to be a calculated move in response to the Lok Sabha election results, where the Uddhav faction relied heavily on Muslim votes, particularly from the Maha Vikas Aghadi coalition. The commitment to opposing the Waqf Amendment Bill and protecting Waqf properties is seen as a direct appeal to maintain and strengthen the support of the Muslim community in the upcoming assembly elections.

“The opposition of the MPs of the Uddhav faction to a sensitive issue like the Waqf Bill will infuse new confidence in the minority society towards the party,” political analysts suggest. As the assembly elections approach, the inclusion of Muslim candidates in the Shiv Sena (UBT) lineup could play a crucial role in determining the party’s success, especially given the shifting voter base and the challenges of maintaining a balance between different communities.

Sanjay Nirupam’s endorsement of the demand also highlights the ongoing rift within the Shiv Sena, with the Shinde faction critiquing Uddhav’s approach and its departure from the party’s traditional voter base. However, Uddhav Thackeray’s recent actions suggest a deliberate strategy to consolidate Muslim support, which could prove decisive in the upcoming elections.