Alliance Uncertainty Clouds Maharashtra's Upcoming Civic Polls
The political landscape for the upcoming local body elections in Maharashtra remains shrouded in uncertainty as both the ruling coalition and the opposition indicated that the final shape of alliances will only become clear after November 17, the last date for filing nominations. The elections, scheduled for December 2 with counting on December 3, are for 246 municipal councils and 42 nagar panchayats in their first phase.
Leadership Downplays State-Level Role, Emphasizes Local Dynamics
Chief Minister and BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis sought to clarify the complex alliance scenario, stating, "This is not a state assembly election. This is a local election where local units have been asked to decide the candidature." He explained that the ruling Mahayuti alliance is contesting together in some places, with only two parties aligned in others, and no alliance in certain areas, promising exact details only after Tuesday.
Echoing this sentiment, Supriya Sule, NCP (SP) working president and MP, confirmed that her party's president, Sharad Pawar, has authorized local units to make decisions based on ground conditions. "It is only on Tuesday morning that we can tell you how many seats the party is fighting," she remarked, highlighting the decentralized approach.
Cracks in Alliances and Key Local Contests Emerge
The Mahayuti alliance has already shown significant cracks. In a notable development, the BJP, the Ajit Pawar-led NCP, and the Shiv Sena are fighting separately in many regions. A high-profile contest is unfolding in Solapur, where the BJP has decided to go solo against the influential Mohite-Patil family, which has long controlled the Akluj municipal council. With the Ajit Pawar-led NCP also contesting independently there, a triangular fight is assured.
Further illustrating the fragmented nature of these polls, the alliance patterns vary drastically across districts. In Nasik, the BJP is partnering with the Shinde-led Sena, excluding the NCP. Conversely, in Vidarbha's Bhandara and the Marathwada region's Dharashiv district, all three Mahayuti parties are contesting independently. A surprising local pact has emerged in Kolhapur's Chandgad, where the ruling NCP has chosen to ally with the opposition NCP (SP).
Opposition's Strategy and Authorized Alliances
On the opposition front, state Congress chief Harshvardhan Sapkal outlined their strategy, confirming that local party workers have been empowered to form alliances based on local conditions, with the sole stipulation that the ally must not be from the Mahayuti. Acting on this, the Congress has already forged alliances with Prakash Ambedkar-led Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi (VBA) in Nanded, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, and Buldhana, and with the Rashtriya Samaj Party (RSP) in Satara.
As the deadline for nominations closes, all eyes are on November 17 for a definitive picture of the political alignments that will define these crucial local contests, setting the stage for the polls on December 2.
