Nagpur, Dec 10 (NationPress) Maharashtra's Revenue Minister and BJP Election In-charge for local body elections, Chandrashekhar Bawankule, announced on Wednesday that the Mahayuti coalition, consisting of the BJP, Shiv Sena, and NCP, will stand united in the upcoming elections for the 32 Zilla Parishads and 29 Municipal Corporations. He emphasized that the partnership among these three parties will remain strong.

"The unity of Mahayuti is crucial for the Zilla Parishad and Municipal Corporation elections. We've set our sights on securing 51 percent of the votes to ensure victory, and we will contest these elections as one," he stated.

Minister Bawankule made these remarks while addressing the media after a meeting that included Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, and BJP State President Ravindra Chavan.

Instructions have been issued to district leaders to finalize the Mahayuti's local framework. He noted that while minor issues may arise regarding 5 to 10 percent of the seats, Devendra Fadnavis and Eknath Shinde will personally resolve these matters.

Additionally, Bawankule mentioned that the coalition is also gearing up for the elections in the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation.

"The Shiv Sena has requested 90 to 100 seats, but the final decision on seat allocation will consider various technical factors. A committee, comprising four members each from the BJP and Shiv Sena, along with representatives of Mahayuti, will convene for discussions," he added. He assured that any differences would be amicably addressed by senior leaders. Furthermore, the decision regarding the Mayor’s post in Mumbai will be jointly made by CM Fadnavis, DCMs Shinde, and Ajit Pawar.

Bawankule reiterated that Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar is a vital part of Mahayuti and will actively participate in the upcoming elections. He stressed that past disagreements in local elections were merely "differences of opinion" rather than any severe rift.

This statement follows allegations concerning poaching made by Shiv Sena and BJP leaders during the recent elections for 264 nagar parishads and nagar panchayats. Additionally, there were instances where the three parties contested against each other, leading to heated exchanges.

On the topic of a separate Vidarbha and its development, Bawankule criticized the Congress party, claiming that under Devendra Fadnavis' leadership since 2014, Vidarbha has experienced significant progress. "The BJP supports the notion that smaller states can thrive, and our goal is to ensure justice for Vidarbha. The Congress's decline in this region stems from its neglect," he stated.

He further clarified that the headquarters of the Forest Department will not be relocated to Mumbai, given that Vidarbha boasts the largest forest cover.