For Shiv Sena to reclaim its clout, Uddhay will have to hit the road

With Eknath Shinde in the CM's seat and Uddhav Thackeray left with a handful of MLAs in the Maharashtra assembly, Matoshree faces its worst crisis since the Shiv Sena's inception in 1966.

- Ambarish Mishra

Mumbai: A series of moves deftly executed by the BJP has left the Sena gasping for breath. That Thackeray had not the foggiest idea of Shinde's rebellion a Sena strategist admitted sheepishly that by the time party seniors understood the gravity of the situation, the rebels had crossed the border on their way to Surat shows that the former CM was hopelessly cut off from ground reality, said observers.

Thackeray's immediate task is to stem the tide of intra-party rebellion and stop Shinde from walking away with Balasaheb's legacy. There is a possibility the new formation may put the screws on Thackeray loyalists. And all hell will break loose for Matoshree if the Shinde group claims Sena's poll symbol in that case, the election commission may freeze it, said experts ahead of the Mumbai civic election.