Hailing from the Maharashtrian Brahmin community in Konkan, Joshi initially moved to Mumbai to work as a teacher in a coaching class. From there, he ventured into establishing his own multi-crore technical education institute, later expanding into real estate and hospitality. Known for his soft-spoken nature and adept political management skills, Joshi complemented the more charismatic and aggressive Bal Thackeray perfectly.

Joshi played a pivotal role in the Shiv Sena’s control of the influential Bombay Municipal Corporation in the early 1970s. His steady ascent within the party ranks saw him serve as the mayor of Bombay, followed by the leader of the opposition in the Maharashtra Assembly, culminating in his appointment as chief minister of the first Shiv Sena-BJP government in Maharashtra in 1995. Despite Thackeray’s public declaration that he held the reins of power in the state, Joshi’s tenure as CM showcased the Shiv Sena’s governance capabilities.

Despite his close association with Thackeray, Manohar Joshi wasn’t initially Thackeray’s preferred choice for chief minister. The Shiv Sena founder, buoyed by the Hindutva movement following the Babri Masjid demolition, initially favoured another colleague, the mild-mannered Sudhir Joshi, for the position. However, Thackeray was cautioned that Sudhir Joshi might struggle to manage a robust ally like the BJP and the support of 32 independent MLAs.

According to a senior Sena leader, “It was likely the first government of its kind in Maharashtra, where the entire cabinet, including the chief minister, had no prior government experience. It was solely Manohar Joshi’s expertise that ensured the smooth functioning and stability of the government.” Eknath Khadse, who served as finance and irrigation minister in Joshi’s cabinet, commented, “We may have had disagreements, but he was always receptive to our suggestions. Once our ideas were accepted, he fully supported us.”