Parbhani Mayoral Election: Shiv Sena (UBT) and Congress Alliance Faces Crucial Test
Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar: The political spotlight in Maharashtra has shifted decisively to Thursday's critical mayoral election in the Parbhani Municipal Corporation. This comes in the immediate aftermath of a significant development where the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), with crucial support from the Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray faction), secured the top post in the Chandrapur civic body by defeating the Congress party.
Seat Arithmetic and Alliance Dynamics
In the 65-member Parbhani Municipal Corporation, the Shiv Sena (UBT) currently holds 25 seats. To successfully elect its chosen candidate as the mayor, the party requires the backing of the Congress, which commands 12 corporators. This numerical necessity has placed the alliance under intense scrutiny, especially after recent events.
State Congress president Harshwardhan Sapkal added a layer of complexity on Tuesday by suggesting that the stance taken by Shiv Sena (UBT) in Chandrapur would have repercussions across Maharashtra. He pointedly questioned, "Should Congress adopt a similar position in Parbhani?" This statement has introduced an element of uncertainty into the pre-poll understanding between the two parties.
Confident Voices and Local Coordination
Despite the tensions, Shiv Sena (UBT)'s Parbhani MP, Sanjay Jadhav, expressed strong confidence that his party and the Congress would elect the mayor together without any friction. "The developments in Chandrapur won't affect the mayoral election in Parbhani. We have a pre-poll alliance with Congress, and both parties share strong coordination at the local level. Together, we will take charge," Jadhav asserted.
He outlined the proposed power-sharing arrangement, stating that the mayor's position would go to Shiv Sena (UBT), while Congress would hold the deputy mayor's position. Jadhav also revealed a poignant political detail, noting that deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar had contacted him just three days before his tragic demise in a plane crash. Pawar had expressed willingness to collaborate in Parbhani.
"I had told him that we already had an alliance with Congress and couldn't sideline them. I suggested the possibility of a three-party arrangement, but no further discussions took place," Jadhav explained. The Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) holds 12 corporators in the Parbhani civic body, making it a potential player in any broader arrangement.
Congress's Stance and Local Autonomy
Maharashtra Congress general secretary Jitendra Dehade provided clarity on his party's position, stating that local members in Parbhani had been fully authorized to take their own decisions regarding the mayoral election. "Whatever happened in Chandrapur is deeply unfortunate. But the Congress never betrays its allies, no matter the circumstances," he emphasized, reinforcing a commitment to the alliance despite the recent setback.
The election is now seen as a critical test of the opposition unity in Maharashtra's local governance. Political observers are closely watching whether the alliance can withstand the pressure following the Chandrapur result and present a united front. The outcome will likely influence future coalition strategies in other municipal corporations across the state.
With all corporators in position, the vote on Thursday will determine not just the leadership of Parbhani but also signal the strength and stability of the Shiv Sena (UBT)-Congress partnership in the face of BJP's growing influence in urban local bodies.
