In a significant political development for Maharashtra, the Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) and the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) are poised to join forces for the upcoming elections to the Mumbai civic body. The announcement of this alliance is likely to be made public in the near future, according to senior leader and Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Raut.
Raut Confirms Talks, Reaches Out to Congress
Sanjay Raut confirmed that discussions between the two parties have progressed positively. He also revealed that he has been in touch with the top leadership of the Congress party. Raut has urged the Congress to contest the crucial Mumbai civic polls as an integral part of the Opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) coalition.
The MP believes that for the MVA to present a formidable front, it should formally include the Raj Thackeray-led MNS. This move signals a potential reunification of sorts within the broader Shiv Sena family, albeit in an opposition role against the current state government.
Implications for Mumbai's Political Landscape
The proposed Shiv Sena UBT MNS alliance could dramatically alter the equations for the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections. The BMC is India's richest municipal corporation, and control over it is a major political prize. An alliance between the two parties, which have significant influence in Mumbai and Maharashtra, aims to consolidate their voter base and mount a serious challenge to the ruling combine.
This development, reported on 16 December 2025, underscores the ongoing realignments in Maharashtra politics following the split in the original Shiv Sena. The coming together of Uddhav Thackeray's faction and Raj Thackeray's party, if it materializes, will be a key event to watch.
Road Ahead for the Opposition Bloc
The success of this strategy hinges on the response from the Congress party. The MVA, originally comprising Shiv Sena (UBT), Congress, and NCP (Sharadchandra Pawar), will become a broader and potentially more powerful coalition if it successfully integrates the MNS. Sanjay Raut's proactive diplomacy highlights the urgency within the opposition to present a united face ahead of the important urban local body polls.
All eyes are now on the formal announcement, which is expected soon, and the subsequent seat-sharing negotiations between the allied parties. The outcome will set the tone for one of the most keenly watched electoral battles in the state.
