The ruling Mahayuti alliance in Maharashtra has taken several key decisions to prevent rebellion ahead of the upcoming local body elections, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis announced on Wednesday at his official residence.
Within the alliance, the BJP and Shiv Sena will contest jointly in some municipal corporations in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR), while in other areas, both parties will contest separately.
Fadnavis said that in Panvel, Vasai-Virar, and Kalyan-Dombivli, the BJP and Shiv Sena are likely to contest together. However, in Thane, Navi Mumbai, and Mira-Bhayander, the two parties will field candidates independently. Decisions regarding Bhiwandi and Ulhasnagar are yet to be made.
Elections for a total of 29 municipal corporations in the state are expected to be held in January next year. In these elections, the three Mahayuti partners are likely to engage in what Fadnavis called “friendly fights”, meaning they may compete against each other without major conflict.
Since the formation of Mahayuti 2.0, the three alliance partners have been actively working to strengthen their base at the local level, often by bringing leaders from other parties into their fold.
Sources said that the BJP has informed its allies, Shiv Sena and the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), that there will be no alliances in Pune, Pimpri-Chinchwad, Nagpur, and Mira-Bhayander, as the BJP already has a strong presence in these regions. In Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad, the NCP remains the second-largest party.
Fadnavis stated, “In local body elections, alliances are formed based on the local political situation. This policy is practical and acceptable to all.”
He added, “Even in the past, when we were in power at the state and central levels, we contested elections independently in cities like Mumbai and Thane. In Thane and Navi Mumbai, both the Shiv Sena and BJP have strong bases forming an alliance there could increase the chances of rebellion.”
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