Ahead of civic polls, Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray released a booklet detailing his government's COVID-19 pandemic response between 2019-2022. The publication highlights measures taken to contain the virus, particularly in Mumbai's Dharavi. This move is seen as strategic for Thackeray, who aims to regain control of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), a body his party previously led for over two decades. Thackeray's party has also allied with the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena for the upcoming elections.