The Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena on Friday sprang a nasty surprise on the rival Shiv Sena (UBT) by deciding to field two-time MP, former Union Minister and current Rajya Sabha member Milind Deora as its candidate against Uddhav Thackeray’s son and sitting MLA Aaditya Thackeray from Worli Assembly constituency in south Mumbai.

The decision is being seen as a tactical move by the ruling Shinde Sena to upset the plans of the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena and tie down its key campaigner Aaditya to the Worli constituency during the electioneering for the November 20 State Assembly polls.

Confirming his readiness to take on 34-year-old Aaditya in Worli constituency,

47-year-old Milind wrote on micro-blogging site “X”: "Chief Minister Eknath Shinde ji believes that justice for Worli and Worlikars is long overdue. Together, we're paving the way forward and will share our vision soon. It’s Worli NOW!"

It may be recalled that Aaditya had won the Worli seat for the first time in 2019 Assembly polls against then united NCP candidate Suresh Mane by a handsome margin of 67,427 votes. At a time when everyone thought that Aaditya’s re-election from Worli was a foregone conclusion, Milind’s nomination as the Shinde Sena candidate has come a bolt from the blue.  The contest between Aaditya and Milind is going to be tough one, considering that the latter is as much as popular as the Sena (UBT) candidate 

The prestigious Worli seat forms a part of the South Mumbai Lok Sabha constituency, from where Milind had been elected to Lok Sabha twice on a Congress ticket in 2004 and 2009. His late father and veteran Congressman Murli Deora had represented Mumbai south for four terms in 1984, 1989, 1991 and 1998.

A former minister in the Manmohan Singh Cabinet from May 2011 to May 2014, Milind Deora quit the Congress and joined the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena in January this year. Subsequently, Milind was elected to Rajya Sabha on a Shinde Sena ticket in February 2024.

Much to the advantage of Aaditya, the Mumbai South constituency is held for the past three terms (2014, 2019 and 2024)  by the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena. Two of the six Assembly seats – Worli and Shivadi – are currently held by the Shiv Sena (UBT), while one seat (Byculla) is held by the Shinde Sena. 

Both Aaditya and Milind have their plus and minus points. Both are convent school backgrounds. Aaditya completed his schooling from Bombay Scottish School at Mahim, graduated in History from the Bombay University and later obtained an LLB degree from the same university. Milind attended the Cathedral and John Connon School and Sydenham College. He later acquired a Bachelor of Business Administration from the Questrom School of Business at Boston University.

Being the son of the soil and coming from the Thackeray family, Aaditya speaks Marathi very well, while Milind –despite being a non-Maharashtrian – speaks Marathi well. Both of them speak English well.  Both of them are popular in Worli and have a good influence on middle-class voters. Worli being an area where a sizeable number of Kolis (fishermen) live, Aaditya will be their first choice, while Milind has already gone on record saying that he would do his bit to Kolis, if elected.

What goes in Aaditya’s favour is that Worli Assembly has been the parent Shiv Sena bastion, having won all the State Assembly elections since 1990 – except one election in 2009 when the united NCP’s Sachin Ahir had won seat. In addition, being a one-term MLA Aaditya is familiar with his constituents and their issues. He has been interacting with his constituents on a regular basis ever since he was elected to the State Assembly from Worli in 2019.           

For Aaditya, Worli is an Assembly constituency for keeps, while it is quite likely that Milind may quit as MLA if he wins the polls, because he prefers to be in Parliament and not in the State Assembly.

If Eknath Shinde has chosen to put Milind as a candidate from Worli, it is with the intention of making matters difficult for both Uddhav Thackeray and Aaditya. While Aaditya will have to devote attention and time for campaigning, the senior Thackeray will have to pitch in to ensure his son’s victory, since it is a prestigious battle for both of them and the party.

On the contrary, Milind has little to lose if he is not able to win the Worli seat. All the same, a keen battle is on the cards in Worli constituency.