The political landscape in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar was thrown into turmoil on Tuesday as the much-anticipated Shiv Sena-BJP alliance for the Municipal Corporation elections officially collapsed. The breakdown of the Mahayuti coalition has triggered a fierce war of words, with both sides publicly accusing each other of sabotaging the partnership ahead of the crucial civic polls.
Accusations Fly: Arrogance vs. Unreasonable Demands
Shiv Sena MLA and district guardian minister Sanjay Shirsat launched a sharp attack on the BJP, attributing the split to the party's growing overconfidence. He claimed that the BJP's perceived rise in strength in the city led to an arrogant mindset, convincing them they could contest alone. "BJP developed a mindset that it can do anything on its own. It is this arrogance that led to the breaking-up of the alliance," Shirsat told reporters.
On the opposing side, BJP leaders fired back with equally serious allegations. State OBC welfare minister Atul Save and MP Bhagwat Karad accused the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena of derailing the alliance for the "personal and political rehabilitation of immediate family members, including sons and daughters." They contended that despite a finalized seat-sharing formula, local Sena leaders kept making fresh and escalating demands.
Behind the Scenes of a Failed Negotiation
Shirsat provided a detailed account of the negotiations, stating that the Shiv Sena had consistently pushed for a joint contest, a move he claimed was supported by public sentiment. He alleged that certain local BJP functionaries deliberately engineered the split, even after discussions with Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis had resolved deadlocked seats. "Despite this, the same seats were deliberately reopened for dispute the very next morning. BJP politicians had already decided to break the alliance," he charged.
He further accused the BJP of operating with double standards, claiming that while official talks were ongoing, BJP candidates were receiving instructions behind the scenes. "We were deliberately kept in the dark so that we would be pushed into last-minute confusion. We were toyed with," Shirsat expressed.
The Road Ahead: Independent Contests and Warnings
With the alliance chapter closed, both parties are preparing for a solo fight. Shirsat revealed that Shiv Sena has instructed all its candidates to file nomination forms, though he voiced apprehension about potential obstacles during the process. He issued a warning that disrespecting the voters' mandate would be costly, adding that while his party would avoid mudslinging, it would respond in kind if attacked.
From the BJP's perspective, Atul Save stated that a 37-seat sharing formula was already agreed upon by CM Fadnavis and Deputy CM Eknath Shinde. He alleged that Shiv Sena later demanded an additional 15 seats and reopened talks on wards with sitting BJP corporators. "Proposals were repeatedly changed to adjust relatives and rehabilitate specific individuals," Save claimed. MP Bhagwat Karad pointed to internal discord within Sena as a key reason for the talks' failure. He confirmed that the BJP will now contest the civic polls independently on a development plank.
The collapse of the Mahayuti in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar sets the stage for a highly competitive and contentious election, reshaping the political dynamics in the city.
