In a dramatic political development within Maharashtra's Nashik division, the ruling 'Mahayuti' alliance of BJP, Shiv Sena, and NCP managed to clinch a last-minute seat-sharing agreement for the Jalgaon Municipal Corporation elections on Tuesday. However, similar negotiations spectacularly broke down in other key municipal areas including Nashik, Ahilyanagar, Dhule, and Malegaon, setting the stage for multi-cornered contests.
Jalgaon Pact and MVA's Swift Move
While the Mahayuti partners were engaged in down-to-the-wire talks, the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) coalition moved with agility. The MVA, comprising Shiv Sena (UBT), NCP (SP), and the Congress, announced its seat-sharing formula earlier and ensured its candidates filed their nominations with AB forms on Monday and Tuesday, gaining an early advantage.
The hard-fought Mahayuti agreement for Jalgaon's 75-seat corporation allocates 48 seats to the BJP, 23 to Shiv Sena, and 4 to the NCP. Notably, the BJP's tally includes two candidates from the NCP who will be contesting on the BJP's election symbol.
Alliance Collapse and High Drama in Nashik
The scenario turned sour in Nashik city, where the BJP allegedly failed to respond to proposals from its allies. Consequently, Shiv Sena and NCP announced a separate pact, leaving the BJP to contest the elections alone. The MVA is contesting jointly here as well.
The political tension spilled onto the streets, culminating in high drama. BJP office-bearers, including city unit president Sunil Kedar and MLAs Devyani Pharande and Seema Hiray, were reportedly chased by disgruntled aspirants while carrying AB forms along the Nashik-Mumbai highway. The leaders had to seek refuge in a bungalow for nearly an hour until Water Resources Minister Girish Mahajan intervened to resolve the situation.
Multi-Cornered Fights in Ahilyanagar, Malegaon, and Dhule
The failure of alliance talks has fragmented the political landscape across the division. In Ahilyanagar, the inability to reach a consensus has resulted in a three-way contest. The NCP and BJP are in an alliance contesting 34 and 32 seats respectively. The MVA's share includes 32 seats for NCP (SP), 24 for Shiv Sena (UBT), and 14 for Congress. Additionally, an independent Shiv Sena faction is contesting 43 of the 68 seats solo.
In Malegaon, Mahayuti talks also failed, leading to a direct confrontation between Shiv Sena and the BJP. The last day of nominations witnessed a massive show of strength with 773 aspirants filing papers for 84 seats across 21 wards. The MVA is contesting together here.
The Dhule scene mirrors the discord. Seat-sharing talks within the Mahayuti collapsed again. The BJP is contesting 58 of 74 seats independently, while an NCP-Shiv Sena alliance is fielding candidates in 72 seats (33 by Shiv Sena). The MVA is fighting jointly, with Congress claiming 22 seats alongside its partners.
The internal rift within the Mahayuti was exacerbated by strong opposition from local BJP members in Dhule on Monday against any alliance with Shiv Sena, prompting the party to go solo in several regions. This series of breakdowns promises fierce, direct contests between the BJP and Shiv Sena in multiple areas, significantly altering the dynamics of the upcoming municipal elections in the Nashik division.
