Are there any obstacles in the BJP-Shiv Sena alliance for municipal polls?
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- No obstacles in BJP-Shiv Sena alliance for municipal polls.
- Seat-sharing discussions are progressing positively.
- 40% of candidates in BMC elections will be youth under 35.
- Joint coordination committee formed for BMC elections.
- Focus on unity amidst potential urban constituency conflicts.
Amravati, Dec 27 (NationPress) On Saturday, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis stated that there are no impediments in the partnership between the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena for the forthcoming municipal corporation elections.
During a press briefing in Amravati, Fadnavis highlighted that discussions regarding seat-sharing are advancing positively.
When asked about the seat-sharing framework of the MahaYuti alliance, he assured that the negotiations are in an encouraging phase.
“A collaboration will certainly take place, and there will be no challenges,” he affirmed.
He elaborated on the team responsible for these significant discussions, mentioning that BJP State President Ravindra Chavan is leading the negotiations, aided by Revenue Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule, senior leader Ashish Shelar, along with key local representatives from each municipal corporation.
“As per the latest updates from last night, the discussions are on a very positive trajectory,” he noted.
This statement emerges at a pivotal moment as various political factions in Maharashtra prepare their strategies for the 2026 local body elections.
Fadnavis’s affirmation is intended to convey a sense of unity within the ruling coalition amidst speculations about potential conflict over certain urban constituencies.
Concerning the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), he mentioned that a joint coordination committee, comprising BJP's Ravindra Chavan and Sena's Uday Samant, is addressing the logistical aspects. Any final deadlock will be personally resolved by him and Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde.
Fadnavis disclosed that 40% of the BJP's candidates in the BMC elections will be under 35 years old, indicating a strategy to counter the 'son of the soil' narrative of the Thackeray cousins with a focus on 'development and youth'.
Reportedly, Fadnavis and Shinde have chosen to exclude Ajit Pawar’s NCP from the Mumbai contest to prevent internal discord regarding the city's political nuances.
BJP insiders familiar with the seat-sharing discussions revealed that Fadnavis is positioning the BJP as the 'senior partner' in Mumbai while ensuring Eknath Shinde receives adequate seats to uphold his party's identity as the 'true' Shiv Sena.