In a significant political development ahead of the Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) elections, the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT) has adopted an assertive stance, formally demanding around 35 seats within the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) alliance. The party has also signaled its readiness to contest the polls independently if negotiations fail to meet its expectations.
A Show of Strength Through Mass Interviews
The party's firm position comes against the backdrop of a major organisational exercise held on Monday. Sena UBT interviewed nearly 450 aspirants for civic tickets at its party office in Nagpur. This large-scale event, held a day before the nomination process begins on Tuesday, was attended by senior leaders, district office-bearers, women's wing members, Yuva Sena functionaries, and a large number of workers. The high turnout transformed the candidate screening into a visible show of mobilisation and strength.
For the 151-member civic body, the party has received a total of 457 applications. Party leaders believe this volume of interest will bolster their claim during seat-sharing discussions with alliance partners Congress and NCP.
Merit and Loyalty as Selection Criteria
The party has decided to base its candidate selection for the upcoming polls on the twin pillars of "merit" and "loyalty." Kishor Kumeria, the district chief, outlined the criteria, stating priority would be given to candidates who fought close contests in the 2017 municipal elections and to workers who were actively involved in social service during the Covid-19 pandemic.
"Only those with a clean image, strong public connect, and the ability to work consistently on people's issues will be considered," Kumeria said, emphasizing that the selection process would be transparent.
MVA Alliance Dynamics and Strategic Calculations
The demand for 35 seats follows the Congress party's reported refusal to offer more than 20 seats to its MVA partners. Congress, which remains the dominant force in the civic body, has justified its position by citing the 2017 municipal election results. In that election, the undivided Shiv Sena secured just two seats, while the undivided NCP won only one.
Undeterred, Sena UBT is preparing to stake claim to wards where its candidates finished second in the previous election. Leaders indicated that in the event of an MVA alliance, they would press for these specific seats. A proposal has been discussed under the four-member ward system for Congress and Shiv Sena to contest two seats each in wards where the Sena secured the second position last time.
To oversee the entire election process, a special election management committee has been formed under the guidance of Satish Harde, the contact chief for the Nagpur Lok Sabha constituency. The committee, which includes Harde, Kumeria, Pramod Manmode, and Suresh Sakhare, also comprises four experienced members from each Assembly segment.
Political observers view this assertive posture as a calculated move by Shiv Sena (UBT) to keep its options open. The party is positioning itself either as a tougher negotiator within the MVA fold or as a credible standalone contender in Nagpur's high-stakes civic contest, ensuring it is prepared for any outcome of the alliance talks.
