The BEST Credit Society Election Becomes Litmus Test for Thackeray Cousins Ahead of Crucial BMC Polls as Mumbai finds itself at the center of a politically charged and symbolically significant battle that could shape the narrative leading into the high-stakes Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections. What might have been a low-profile institutional poll for the BEST Employees’ Co-operative Credit Society has transformed into a contest loaded with political undertones, alliances, defections, and allegations. At the heart of this political microcosm are two cousins—Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray and Raj Thackeray—whose rare collaboration under the Utkarsh Panel is not only a tactical experiment but also a critical test of unity and political chemistry, playing out in front of Mumbai’s politically alert electorate.

The BEST Credit Society election, being held for the first time in four years, has taken on unprecedented significance primarily because it features a joint front between Uddhav Thackeray’s Shiv Sena (UBT) and Raj Thackeray’s Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS). Together, they have floated the Utkarsh Panel, which is contesting against the Sahkar Samruddhi Panel backed by the Mahayuti alliance, a coalition led by the BJP, Eknath Shinde’s Shiv Sena, and other regional allies. These local cooperative elections, which typically involve only employees of the Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST) undertaking, are now receiving attention from across the political spectrum, with observers calling this an early barometer of Mumbai’s evolving political mood.

A Rare Alliance and a High-Stakes Test

This is the first time in decades that Uddhav Thackeray and Raj Thackeray have appeared to be on the same side of an electoral contest. The significance of this joint effort cannot be overstated. Since Raj Thackeray broke away from the undivided Shiv Sena in 2006 to form the MNS, both cousins have traveled parallel paths—often competing against each other and, in many cases, splitting the Marathi votebank in Mumbai.
Their decision to align for the BEST Credit Society election may seem relatively small in geographic scope but symbolises a larger tactical shift. The alliance appears grounded in the understanding that a divided Marathi vote could benefit the ruling BJP–Shinde Sena coalition in the upcoming BMC polls, which are widely regarded as a major political battleground in Maharashtra.
Under the Utkarsh banner, 19 candidates are from the UBT Shiv Sena, and 2 candidates are from the MNS, signalling a carefully balanced understanding between the two cousins. The entire campaign, therefore, is not just about electing 21 directors of a cooperative society; it is a trial balloon for how a broader UBT–MNS alliance could function in real time.

Sahkar Samruddhi Panel and the Mahayuti Strategy

The Sahkar Samruddhi Panel represents the ruling Mahayuti coalition, which includes Prasad Lad’s Shramik Utkarsh Sabha, Nitesh Rane’s Samarth BEST Workers’ Union, and Kiran Pawaskar’s Rashtriya Kamgar Sena—all of which are associated with the BJP–Shinde Sena alliance. Their strategy is to retain control over one of Mumbai’s most influential employee networks by highlighting the fact that Maharashtra is currently under the Mahayuti government, and that continued cooperation between labour unions and the ruling coalition will ensure “seamless benefits and reforms” for BEST workers.
But the presence of independent panels,including Shashank Rao’s independent group and the BEST Parivartan Panel of the Mumbai Electric Workers’ Union, have added additional intrigue and complexity to the contest. While these panels do not command the same organisational strength as the two main formations, they represent dissatisfaction among employees who either oppose the politicisation of the society or are unhappy with the existing leadership.

Allegations and EOW Notices

What has elevated the political temperature even further is the timing of the allegations and the involvement of the Economic Offences Wing (EOW).
Just 24 hours before polling, the EOW issued notices to 21 sitting directors of the credit society following a complaint by BJP MLA Prasad Lad, who claimed that ₹24 crore had been siphoned off through irregularities in loan disbursement and fund utilisation. Lad singled out society president Umesh Sarang (Shiv Sena UBT) and BEST Workers’ Union president Suhas Samant as key individuals allegedly involved in the irregularities.
Opposition leaders—including senior functionaries from both the UBT Shiv Sena and MNS—immediately questioned the timing of the notices, accusing the government of attempting to influence voter sentiment just before polling.
This episode has added an entirely new edge to the campaign, with the Utkarsh Panel presenting the probe as evidence of “political intimidation”, and the Mahayuti alliance defending it as a “necessary administrative intervention”.

Babita Pawar’s Defection and the Battle for Perception

Adding further fuel to the fire, Babita Pawar, a former employee associated with the Shinde Sena faction at the Mazgaon depot, defected to the Thackeray camp on the eve of the election.
Her switch was portrayed by the Utkarsh Panel as evidence that workers are losing confidence in the ruling alliance and are gravitating toward the Thackeray cousins, believing that the Mumbai civic body should once again be brought under the leadership of Marathi-centric parties.
Political strategists believe that defections in local cooperative campaigns can be extremely symbolic, particularly when they occur immediately before polling day. In uniforms and workplaces where kinship and loyalty matter deeply, a single defection can be interpreted by others as a broader shift in sentiment.

A Poll Loaded With Symbolism Ahead of the BMC Elections

The BEST Credit Society elections have always had relevance because the BEST undertaking is one of the largest employers in Mumbai, with several thousand employees across bus depots and electricity supply offices. Winning this election gives a political outfit both influence over a large urban labour constituency and moral authority in the broader political arena.
However, the 2025 election is unique because of its timing and broader implications:

• It is the first major election in Mumbai in which the Thackeray cousins are working together.

• It precedes the BMC election, where the control of India’s richest municipal corporation will be fiercely contested.

• It is occurring at a time when Marathi labour politics is deeply fragmented, and voter loyalty is extremely fluid.

If the Utkarsh Panel wins, it would bolster worker morale in the Thackeray-led parties and send a clear message that a joint UBT–MNS alliance could succeed against the ruling coalition’s formidable political machinery. This, in turn, may encourage other regional parties to explore anti-BJP coalitions ahead of the municipal polls.
On the other hand, a Mahayuti victory would reinforce the perception that the BJP–Shinde Sena alliance continues to dominate Mumbai’s labour and cooperative sectors, and that opposition unity efforts have yet to gain traction at the ground level.

Voting and the Road Ahead

Polling commenced today with several BEST employees turning up early at polling booths, reflecting heightened interest and enthusiasm. Voting will conclude by evening, and the counting of votes is scheduled for Tuesday, August 19.
Political observers believe that a large voter turnout would likely benefit the Utkarsh Panel, as rank-and-file employees are believed to be more sympathetic to the Thackeray cousins. A lower turnout, however, could favour the Mahayuti, which has an established organisational network and the backing of the state machinery.
The results of this election will not only determine control of the BEST Credit Society, but also signal whether Mumbai’s Marathi electorate is ready to place its trust in a reunited Thackeray banner ahead of the BMC elections.

Conclusion

In summary, the BEST Credit Society election of 2025 has become much more than a routine institutional poll. It has turned into a political litmus test for the Thackeray cousins, who are experimenting with their first alliance in decades through the Utkarsh Panel. With allegations of corruption, defections, late-night EOW notices, and rising voter enthusiasm, the contest is being viewed as a mini-referendum on political alliances ahead of the Mumbai civic elections.
Whether Uddhav and Raj Thackeray’s partnership emerges stronger from this trial, or the Mahayuti coalition further entrenches itself as the dominant force, the outcome of the BEST election will shape the narrative of political momentum in Mumbai.
As the city awaits the results, one thing is clear: the battle for Mumbai has already begun, and the BEST Credit Society election may very well be the first chapter in a long and decisive political season.

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