India, Jan. 11 -- Anil Dattatray Parab, 61, Shiv Sena (UBT) MLC and Matoshree's go-to person, is a busy man these days, tying up the loose ends of the Shiv Sena (UBT)-MNS -NCP (SP) campaigns, holding hurried parleys with party colleagues and giving last-minute tips to young Shiv Sainiks. Ambarish Mishra spoke with the party's strategist at his Bandra (East) office, which boasts as the 2026 poll leitmotif an infra-ray photograph of the BMC headquarters by Uddhav Thackeray, about Sena (UBT) wooing the Marathi manoos and Muslim voters, the hurdles in its path and the future.

Excerpts from the interview:

Isn't this a do-or-die election for Shiv Sena (UBT)?

Yes; this election will determine the political trajectory of our party. Also, this ...