The Yuva Sena, the youth wing of Shiv Sena (UBT), led by Aditya Thackeray, secured a decisive victory in the Mumbai University senate elections, winning eight out of the ten seats contested. The senate, which serves as the highest decision-making body and a watchdog for the university, witnessed a significant electoral battle on September 24 following a directive from the Bombay High Court. The Yuva Sena was also poised to win the remaining two seats, ensuring a clean sweep in the elections.
The much-awaited elections were delayed for nearly two years, and the court’s intervention mandated their conduct. Yuva Sena’s dominant performance saw key leaders, including Pradeep Sawant, Alpesh Bhoir, Milind Satam, Mayur Panchal, Sneha Gawli, Sheetal Devrukhkar Sheth, Dhanraj Kohchade, and Shashikant Zore, clinching victory in the prestigious poll. This victory reinforces Yuva Sena’s position within the university and sends a broader political message ahead of the upcoming state elections.
Speaking to India Today, Sheetal Sheth, one of the victorious candidates, accused the government of attempting to prevent the elections from taking place, citing fear of losing the polls. Sheth emphasized that the results were a reflection of the upcoming political scenario, signaling what may unfold in future elections across Maharashtra.
Aditya Thackeray expressed his gratitude and optimism in a celebratory post on social media platform X, where he congratulated the winners and thanked supporters. “10 on 10 it is! Once again!!” he wrote. Aditya Thackeray highlighted the achievement, noting that the Yuva Sena had not only repeated but surpassed its previous performance in the Mumbai University Graduate Senate Elections, maintaining a “100 percent strike rate.” He added, “From here, we start the election victory streak!”
The elections saw participation from the RSS-affiliated Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP), which fielded ten candidates, but they were unsuccessful in their bid. The student wing of the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) also contested one seat. Voter turnout for the election was recorded at 55 percent, marking the first such election after nearly two years.
Unlike student union polls in universities like Delhi University or Jawaharlal Nehru University, the Mumbai University senate election includes representatives of teachers, principals, and registered graduates, rather than current students. The senate holds the authority to pass the university’s budget and manage key administrative decisions.
The election outcome reflects the Yuva Sena’s stronghold over the university’s governance and may indicate broader political trends in the state.
