22 January,2026 07:34 AM IST | Mumbai | Sanjeev Shivadekar
Raj Thackeray and cousin Uddhav Thackeray seen during a joint rally at Shivaji Park prior to the BMC election. PIC/RANE ASHISH
Within just a week of the municipal election results being declared, signs of trouble have emerged between the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT) and Raj Thackeray's Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS). Cracks in the alliance appeared after reports suggested that the MNS would be supporting Eknath Shinde's Shiv Sena, the Sena UBT's biggest rival, in the Kalyan-Dombivali Municipal Corporation (KDMC) to help it claim the mayor's post.
The KDMC election delivered a split result, with no single party getting a clear majority. In the 122-member civic body, the Shinde Sena emerged as the largest party with 53 seats, closely followed by the BJP with 51. Since at least 62 seats are needed to form the civic body, support from other parties has become crucial.
On Wednesday, all 53 Shiv Sena corporators went to the Konkan Divisional Commissioner's office in Navi Mumbai to formally register their group. At the same office, the five MNS corporators also completed the required formalities and officially extended support to the Shinde faction.
Eknath Shinde's Shiv Sena emerged as the largest party in KDMC with 53 seats. PIC/SAYYED SAMEER ABEDI
The political arithmetic to stake a claim to power in the civic body is being seen as a major development in the region. The shifting numbers have the potential to upset both alliances - the BJP-Eknath Shinde combine on one side and the MNS-Shiv Sena (UBT) on the other.
Son of Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, Dr Srikant, who is also a Member of Parliament and personally monitoring developments of KDMC, is said to have met with the MNS leaders. However, while speaking with the media, Dr Srikant said, "The MNS has supported our party, but it will be a Mahayuti mayor."
Also, of the 11 Sena UBT corporators elected, four were not reachable and are said to be in contact with the rival Shinde faction. With the support of five MNS corporators and two from the Sena (UBT), the Shinde-led Sena is now close to the halfway mark and is well ahead of its pre-poll ally, the BJP.
In 2022, Eknath Shinde led a split in the Shiv Sena, breaking the party into two factions: the Shinde-led Shiv Sena and the Shiv Sena (UBT). Since then, Shinde, once considered a close and trusted aide of Uddhav Thackeray, has turned into his fiercest political rival.
Reacting sharply to the developments, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut said his party sees the Shinde-led Sena no different than the right-wing AIMIM (All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen). "How can anyone support traitors?" Raut questioned, adding that the MNS leadership should take strict action against those who have broken away.
Reacting to the development, MNS leaders Raju Patil and Sandeep Deshpande said the decision was taken after party chief Raj Thackeray left it to the local leadership to decide on the alliance and extend support at its level. Clarifying the party's stand, Deshpande said, "This is a local election. The decision has been taken in the larger public interest and should not be seen as party policy."
