Shiv Sena (UBT), MNS coming together won't affect Mahayuti's chances in civic polls: Naresh Mhaske

Naresh Mhaske. Pic/X

The alliance between Shiv Sena (UBT) and Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) will not affect the Mahayuti's chances in the upcoming civic body polls, and the ruling alliance will emerge victorious, Shiv Sena MP Naresh Mhaske said, reported news agency PTI.

Talking to reporters on Saturday night, Mhaske said when the Mahayuti gears up for an electoral battle, it is fully prepared.

Leaders from both the Sena (UBT) and the MNS have said that the parties will "most certainly" form an alliance for the upcoming local body polls in Maharashtra, but the final decision is likely to be made close to the elections, reported PTI.

While Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray has been more vocal about the possible tie-up, his cousin and MNS president Raj Thackeray is reticent.

Mhaske said earlier the Sena (UBT) was in alliance with the Samajwadi Party, Congress and Sharad Pawar-led NCP (SP), but still the Mahayuti emerged victorious in the Lok Sabha and the state assembly polls last year.

The Samajwadi Party was not part of the Maha Vikas Aghadi in the state assembly polls.

"They (the Sena UBT and MNS) can come together and form an alliance. We broke the handi (succeeded) in the Lok Sabha, Vidhan Sabha, and we will do it again in the civic body polls," he said, reported PTI.

The Shiv Sena (UBT) and MNS suffered a drubbing in polls to the 288-member state assembly last year.

The Shiv Sena (UBT) won 20 seats, while the MNS drew a blank, for the first time since its inception in 2006.

Meanwhile, the Shiv Sena (UBT) and the MNS will "most certainly" form an alliance for the upcoming local body polls in Maharashtra, but the final call on it is likely to take place very close to the elections, leaders from both parties have said, reported PTI.

While Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray has been more vocal about the possible alliance, his cousin and Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) president Raj Thackeray is reticent.

On Friday, Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut said his party will form an alliance with the MNS for the civic polls in Mumbai, Thane, Kalyan-Dombivali, Nashik and Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, but there has been no word from the MNS on it yet.

(With inputs from PTI)