In a significant political development ahead of crucial urban local body elections, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut declared on Tuesday that his party will join forces with the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) led by Raj Thackeray. The alliance is specifically targeted at the upcoming civic polls in major cities including Mumbai, Thane, Pune, and Nashik.
Formal Announcement Expected Soon
Sanjay Raut, speaking to reporters in Mumbai, indicated that a formal announcement of the tie-up is likely within the coming week. He stated that Uddhav Thackeray and Raj Thackeray will share the stage for this significant political event. This marks a notable warming of relations between the two parties, which have faced electoral setbacks in the recent 2024 state assembly polls.
The Rajya Sabha MP confirmed that he has held discussions with the MNS president, and meetings between the two parties will continue to iron out details, including seat-sharing arrangements. MNS leader Bala Nandgaonkar echoed this, confirming that "as of now, Shiv Sena (UBT) and MNS are coming together."
Congress's Stance and the MVA Puzzle
While the Shiv Sena (UBT)-MNS pact seems imminent, the position of the Congress party remains a point of contention. Raut revealed that he has urged the Congress top leadership to contest the civic polls as part of the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) bloc, which he believes should incorporate the MNS. However, the Congress leadership has deferred the decision to its local units.
Expressing his disappointment, Raut said, "I don't see Congress coming together at this point in time. They should have been with us." He warned that the people will not forget the stand taken by the Congress, reminding everyone that future Lok Sabha and Vidhan Sabha elections are also on the horizon. His appeal to the local Congress leadership is clear: avoid any action that might benefit the BJP.
The High-Stakes Battle for 29 Municipal Corporations
Elections for 29 municipal corporations across Maharashtra are scheduled for January 15. The most keenly watched contest will be for the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), India's richest civic body. Raut emphasized that the "real battle" is for Mumbai, a city that played a pivotal role in the historic Samyukta Maharashtra movement.
These elections are the first major civic polls since the splits in the Shiv Sena (2022) and the Nationalist Congress Party (2023), events that dramatically reshaped Maharashtra's political landscape. The Shiv Sena (UBT)-MNS alliance will focus on major urban centers like Mumbai, Thane, Kalyan-Dombivli, Mira Bhayander, Pune, and Nashik. Decisions regarding alliances in other civic bodies will be left to local party units.
Raut also mentioned his intent to discuss the evolving situation with NCP (SP) president Sharad Pawar, another key constituent of the MVA. While acknowledging that the NCP (SP) may not have a major footprint in Mumbai, he stressed the importance of contesting together in other civic bodies.
