The political landscape in Kolhapur is heating up as major alliances finalise their strategies for the upcoming Municipal Corporation elections. In a significant development, the Shiv Sena (UBT) faction has secured a deal to contest 12 out of the total 81 seats in an agreement with the Indian National Congress.
Congress and Shiv Sena (UBT) Finalise Pact
According to sources within the Shiv Sena (UBT), candidates for seven of these twelve seats have already been finalised. A Congress functionary explained the strategy, stating that the alliance plans to share some candidates with other parties within the larger opposition front. The goal is to ensure the most winnable combination is fielded in each electoral ward, maximising their chances against the ruling alliance.
Stalemate in Talks with NCP (SP)
While the Congress-Shiv Sena (UBT) deal moves forward, negotiations with the Sharad Pawar-led Nationalist Congress Party (Sharadchandra Pawar) have hit a roadblock. NCP (SP) politicians confirmed they have not yet been formally approached by the Congress for seat-sharing discussions. Sources indicate that Congress is reluctant to offer more than five seats to the NCP (SP), citing concerns over the latter's organisational strength in the region.
This stance conflicts with the NCP (SP)'s initial demand for 20 seats, which was later revised to a list of 14 potential candidates. Senior leader Jayant Patil intervened to arrange a meeting between NCP (SP) district president V B Patil and Congress MLC Satej Patil. However, the talks were unsuccessful. "Satej Patil showed unwillingness to accept our demand for seats," V B Patil told reporters.
The NCP (SP) has set a deadline, stating they will wait until Friday for a resolution. If the talks remain inconclusive, the party has vowed to explore other alliance options, but only with ideologically compatible partners.
Mahayuti Alliance Also Faces Internal Disputes
On the other side of the political divide, the ruling Mahayuti coalition is grappling with its own seat-sharing disagreements. Both the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena are reportedly demanding a larger share of seats from the other. The Ajit Pawar-led NCP faction has not yet entered these negotiations.
In a notable move, BJP politicians have reportedly reached out to Minister Hasan Mushrif to join the Mahayuti alliance. A BJP leader revealed that discussions are ongoing, with Minister Chandrakant Patil and NCP's Hasan Mushrif exchanging details on potential seat allocations. The BJP and Shiv Sena are expected to contest a similar number of seats, though the final distribution is still being worked out.
The stage is set for a fiercely contested election in Kolhapur, with major alliances working to resolve internal conflicts and solidify their fronts before the polls. The outcomes of these ongoing negotiations will critically shape the electoral battle for control of the civic body.
