23 December,2025 05:39 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray and MNS chief Raj Thackeray. File pic
With less than a month to go for the BMC Elections 2026, political parties and alliances have begun formulating strategies to win control of the country's richest civic corporation. Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP's) city chief, Ameet Satam, on Tuesday downplayed the possible alliance between the Shiv Sena (UBT) and the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) for the Mumbai civic elections, saying the tie-up will have no impact on the poll outcome, news agency PTI reported.
The BJP's Mumbai City President made the remarks after Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) leader Sanjay Raut hinted that an alliance between the parties led by cousins Uddhav and Raj Thackeray would be announced on Wednesday.
In a post on social media handle X, Raut shared a picture of Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray and his cousin and MNS head Raj, with the caption "Tomorrow at 12 pm".
Speaking to the media on Tuesday, BJP Mumbai chief Satam said, "There will be no impact on the outcome of the BMC elections, even if the Thackeray cousins come together and contest the polls."
Satam further claimed that the people of Mumbai have decided to vote in large numbers in favour of the BJP-led Mahayuti, PTI reported.
"I believe Mumbaikars have made up their mind to support the BJP-led Mahayuti, and the mayor will be elected from our corporators only," he added.
Despite repeated claims from leaders on both the sides that the talks had concluded, no formal announcement regarding a pre-poll alliance has been made so far.
According to sources, the talks have hit a roadblock over seat-sharing arrangements in key pockets of Mumbai where both parties command considerable support, PTI reported. These include Dadar, Sewree, Vikhroli and Bhandup.
Disagreements over contesting candidates in these strategically important areas have so far prevented the two sides from reaching a final agreement.
Raut had met Raj last week amid the ongoing discussions between the two parties on seat-sharing for the Mumbai civic elections.
This was Raut's second visit to Shivtirth, Raj's residence in Dadar, in three days, highlighting the intensity of the negotiations.
The elections to the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation, Asia's largest civic body, will take place on January 15, and the results will be declared the next day.
(With inputs from PTI)
