MNS and Shiv Sena Shinde Form alliance in KDMC

Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde’s son and Kalyan MP Dr. Shrikant Shinde announced on January 21, that the MNS (Maharashtra Navnirman Sena) and Shiv Sena (Shinde faction) have formed an alliance. He said:

Today, Shiv Sena (Shinde) has formed its group of 53 corporators. Similarly, MNS has also formed its group of 5 corporators and extended support to Shiv Sena (Shinde). We have received MNS’s backing. We had contested the elections as part of the Mahayuti (Grand Alliance), and Mahayuti will form the government in KDMC (Kalyan-Dombivli Municipal Corporation).

BJP’s response

BJP’s spokesperson Navnath Ban commented on these developments:

We were already aware of this. Mahayuti is united. There’s no discontent among us. As Mahayuti, we fought the elections together and will continue to form the government together. On the other hand, if a party like MNS joins us, we welcome it.

In other words, the MNS support for Shiv Sena (Shinde faction) also indirectly benefits BJP, according to the BJP spokesperson:

This does not mean BJP is being sidelined or kept away from forming the government. We are all united and working together. Locally, if MNS supports Shiv Sena (Shinde), it is also support for BJP. There’s no reason for conflict among us.

On support from Uddhav Thackeray’s Shiv Sena

Shrikant Shinde also said that for development in KDMC, they may take support from Uddhav Thackeray’s Shiv Sena if needed. Navnath Ban added that if Uddhav’s faction extends support at the local municipal level, they are welcome, except for Congress and AIMIM, whom they will not seek support from.

Majority math in Kalyan-Dombivli Municipal Corporation

The KDMC has 122 corporators, and the party-wise strength is:

• BJP – 50

• Shiv Sena (Shinde) – 53

• Shiv Sena (Thackeray) – 11

• MNS – 5

• Congress – 2

• NCP (Sharad Pawar) – 1

Majority required: 62 corporators

So, with the Shinde faction (53) + MNS (5) = 58, they still fall short of the majority (62), meaning they may need additional support, possibly from BJP (50) or Thackeray’s faction (11), to comfortably form the local government.

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