In one of Maharashtra’s most talked-about electoral contests, Aaditya Thackeray, son of Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) leader Uddhav Thackeray, holds a narrow lead over Milind Deora, the candidate representing the Eknath Shinde faction of the Shiv Sena. As of 12:30 PM on Saturday, Aaditya Thackeray has a lead of 1,047 votes after seven rounds of counting. This intense political face-off in the Worli constituency, which had been a stronghold for the Deora family for decades, has become a significant battle of influence between the two factions of Shiv Sena. Thackeray, who won the seat by a huge margin of over 67,000 votes in 2019, now finds himself engaged in a tough fight to retain the seat amidst shifting political dynamics in Maharashtra.

Milind Deora, who was previously a Congress Member of Parliament before joining the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena, has campaigned vigorously, claiming that the Uddhav Thackeray faction failed to develop the Worli constituency. Deora has argued that the people of Mumbai, especially in Worli, are looking for new leadership that promises to move Maharashtra forward and has criticized the Thackeray camp for “speed-breaker politics.” On the other hand, Aaditya Thackeray has countered these accusations by emphasizing the shortcomings of the ruling BJP and Shinde factions, accusing them of making hollow promises to the people of Maharashtra.

The Worli constituency, part of the Mumbai (South) Lok Sabha seat, has seen a remarkable political shift, as Arvind Sawant, a former Shiv Sena MP, switched allegiance to the Shinde faction in 2022, signaling the growing influence of the BJP and its partners in Maharashtra. The ongoing contest in Worli is being closely watched as a crucial indicator of the political mood in Maharashtra, with both parties keenly vying for control of this vital urban constituency. As the counting continues, the results could provide a key insight into the future direction of Maharashtra’s political landscape.