Mumbai: “A trusted and loyal aide”, “a very good listener”, “one who understands the problems of the city” — this is how colleagues describe Anil Desai, a long-standing confidant and backstage presence in the Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray), who is now the party’s Lok Sabha polls candidate for the Mumbai South Central seat.
Desai, who has been a representative of Shiv Sena (UBT) in the Rajya Sabha, told ThePrint, “I am basically a Rajya Sabha person. But when the party leadership asked me, i.e. Uddhav saheb, that I have to be in the fray for the Lok Sabha, I said whatever the aadesh (order). After all, aadesh works in our party. So here I am, now contesting for the Lok Sabha.”
Desai is set to represent a seat that spans from Prabhadevi to Trombay — encompassing the affluent Dadar, the birthplace of Shiv Sena, and Dharavi, Asia’s largest slum. Mumbai will cast its votes on 20 May during the fifth phase of polling.
The Mumbai South Central constituency is a melting pot of diverse demographics, with a significant Marathi populace alongside substantial Dalit and Muslim communities, particularly in Mahim and Dharavi. The constituency is also home to Christians, Parsis, and a growing number of Gujaratis, Marwaris, and Jains.
The incumbent MP Rahul Shewale of Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena faction is a Dalit.
According to political analyst Vaibhav Purandare, the minority communities have traditionally supported the Congress, and if this support extends to Shiv Sena (UBT) on the ground, only then will it be advantageous to the alliance.
“The anti-incumbency against Shewale is also there. Plus the division of the Marathi votebank between UBT and the ruling alliance will also give advantage to UBT as it will add to their votes,” Purandare explained.
The Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA), the opposition alliance in Maharashtra — which is a part of the INDIA bloc at the national level — includes the Shiv Sena (UBT), the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) under Sharad Pawar and the Congress.
“At this point, this constituency is delicately poised. It can swing either way,” Purandare told ThePrint. “There are many factors that can decide which way the constituency would vote, including its demographic composition, and when the actual campaigning starts along with the Modi factor. So we need to see how it goes and it is too early to comment,” he added.
However, Purandare highlighted that the Modi factor can play a huge role in favour of the ruling Mahayuti alliance, which includes the Shiv Sena led by Shinde, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Nationalist Congress Party (Ajit Pawar faction).
“And if the MNS (Maharashtra Navnirman Sena) factor tries to divide votes in favour of Mahayuti, and if the Congress votes are not translated effectively, then the ruling alliance can benefit. That’s why I said it is delicately poised and can go either way,” he explained.
ThePrint reached Rahul Shewale, the candidate opposite Desai, for comment via calls and messages. This report will be updated once a response is received.
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Who is Anil Desai?
Desai’s association with Shiv Sena dates back to the 1970s when he joined the Sthaniya Lokadhikar Samiti Mahasangh (SLSM) — a group advocating for the rights of the Marathi ‘manoos’ or locals. The SLSM is the key organisation of the Shiv Sena and was one of the first wings of the party formed for the rights of the Marathi-speaking people in the state.
“The basic inspiration came because I used to attend the Dasara Melava (an annual Dussehra rally of Shiv Sena) at Shivaji Park, so I thought I should work for this cause,” said Desai, who began his career at New India assurance company in the 1970s. As a SLSM activist, he also contributed as a tutor for students preparing for competitive exams at the Sena Bhawan.
Rising through the ranks, Desai became a key surveyor for elections in the early 90s and was appointed as the party’s secretary in 2002. His role expanded to include the party’s legal affairs and Election Commission matters, such as electoral reforms and financial management, data collection regarding the electoral rolls, and more.
According to party insiders, Desai’s ascent within Shiv Sena paralleled Uddhav Thackeray’s rise to prominence. Initially reliant on senior figures from Bal Thackeray’s era — including Manohar Joshi, Sudhir Joshi, and Subhash Desai — Uddhav gradually included Desai in his core team, a Shiv Sena (UBT) leader told ThePrint.
Desai’s political career advanced further when he was nominated to the Rajya Sabha in 2012. During the 2014 assembly elections, when the BJP-Sena alliance dissolved, Desai played a pivotal role in negotiations with the BJP — leading to a coalition government formation in 2015.
“I have always been a backstage person. I used to negotiate every time, be it Lok Sabha or BMC polls. On good terms, settlements used to take place. But during assembly polls, it didn’t go well, but then we got together. So every time during negotiations with the BJP, I used to be there at the forefront,” Desai told ThePrint.
However, Desai has had his share of controversies as well. Earlier in the month, he was called in by the Economic Offences Wing (EOW) of the Mumbai Police for a preliminary inquiry into an alleged misappropriation of Rs 50 crore from the party’s funds.
According to the complaint, the Shiv Sena (UBT) allegedly withdrew Rs 50 crore from the party fund even after the Election Commission (EC) declared the Shinde faction as the real Shiv Sena. The EOW is investigating potential cheating and forgery related to the fund withdrawal and had summoned Desai for questioning.
Uddhav’s trusted aide
According to party insiders, Desai is the “single point person” for party president Uddhav Thackeray, overseeing all organisational aspects and liaising with top party officials.
Notably, he has been instrumental in managing the party’s resources and was reportedly the brainchild behind the 2014 assembly election slogan “UTha Maharashtra (wake up Maharashtra),” with Uddhav Thackeray initials — subtly endorsing Uddhav for the chief minister’s role.
Arvind Sawant, a party colleague, praised Desai’s loyalty to Uddhav, contrasting him with adversaries who lack his steadfastness. “He is a trusted and loyal aide of Uddhav saheb…His opponent (Shewale) has already betrayed Thackeray (by joining Shinde after the split) and can even betray Dharavi. Being a Mumbaikar, he understands the problems of the city, including that of Dharavikars,” Sawant told ThePrint.
Desai’s expertise extends to the party’s strategic operations and administrative management. He played a pivotal role in the legal battle between the two Sena factions, collaborating with MLC Anil Parab and a team of lawyers to argue the case before the Supreme Court. However, the case result did not go as expected for the party.
“He is a very good listener and that sets him apart,” said one of his colleagues, while another highlighted his quiet nature and polite manners, which, he said, could help in his candidature.
“A backstage actor makes the front-facing actor look good and successful. He has always stayed in the back but now is his time to shine in front as well,” said Sawant.
However, according to analyst Purandare, at the moment, Desai is non-controversial and the party’s sober English-speaking face, who has always been “selected” rather than “elected”, which could be a challenge connecting with the people.
But Desai remains optimistic. “People in Maharashtra know what is right or wrong. And this time around, you cannot take people for granted. This election will show the way that people, as voters, were taken for a ride. This feeling is very much there. And they know whom they should be putting their faith in. And Uddhavji is that face. And as a candidate, there will be an honest attempt from my side,” he asserted.
(Edited by Richa Mishra)
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