Ahead of the Mumbai BMC elections on January 15, the Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray faction) and the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) will deploy 2,000 'Bhagwa Guards' to monitor polling booths. This joint initiative aims to curb alleged bogus voting and electoral malpractices, a concern amplified by recent Lok Sabha and Assembly elections. Both Uddhav and Raj Thackeray have issued warnings against vote manipulation, reflecting ongoing political debate over electoral transparency and the role of election authorities.