25 December,2025 04:21 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray and MNS President Raj Thackeray announced their alliance for BMC Elections 2026 on Wednesday. FILE PIC/ASHISH RAJE
A stalemate continues between the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) and Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) over a couple of seats for the upcoming Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections, as both parties have strong influence in the areas concerned, an MNS functionary told PTI.
According to the leader, the disagreement centres on seats in Bhandup, especially ward number 114. Bhandup and Vikhroli in Mumbai's eastern suburbs are areas where both the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT) and Raj Thackeray's MNS enjoy a strong presence.
The Thackeray cousins on Wednesday announced their decision to form an alliance for BMC Elections 2026, but did not share details of the seat-sharing arrangement.
The MNS leader told PTI his party has laid claim to ward 114 for a local leader.
From Shiv Sena (UBT), a former Member of Legislative Assembly's (MLA's) wife and Member of Parliament Sanjay Dina Patil's daughter Rajool are keen to contest from the same ward, the MNS functionary said. The ward has a sizeable Marathi population, and both parties believe it offers a strong chance of victory.
In the 2017 BMC Elections, the then undivided Shiv Sena won 84 of the city's 227 wards, followed by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) with 82 seats, while the MNS secured seven seats.
"We have been asking this ward for our local leader. Giving it to the relatives of a former MLA or the MP's daughter will send out a wrong signal," the MNS leader told PTI, adding that a decision on the issue is likely within a day or two.
However, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut told reporters that seat-sharing discussions between the two parties had already concluded. He also defended party leaders, MLAs and MPs seeking tickets for their family members.
Raut said Rajool is a core committee member of the Yuva Sena, the student wing of Shiv Sena (UBT). He added that Aniket Prabhu, son of Dindoshi MLA Sunil Prabhu, is also a core committee member of the Yuva Sena.
Elections to 29 civic corporations in Maharashtra, including the high-profile BMC polls, will be held on January 15, with counting scheduled for the following day. The nomination process began on December 23 and will continue until December 30.
(With PTI inputs)
