Shiv Sena aims to take on an expansionist BJP in BMC polls

The party hopes to capitalise on its Hindutva, Marathi Manoos planks

Shiv Sena President Uddhav Thackeray has taken a calculated risk to ditch his party's 25-year-old ally Bharatiya Janata Party and fight Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation election independently. Sena insiders argue that Uddhav's announcement is aimed to take the expansionist BJP head on and thereby retain its supremacy over the BMC, which has been the party's oxygen since last 20 years.

Further, Uddhav, who took into confidence his senior leaders and close associates of party supremo late Bal Thackeray, also strongly indicated that the time is quite opportune to build his image as the regional leader similar to Biju Janata Dal leader