Marathi-dominated wards witness intense lobbying amongst newly formed allies
Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray and MNS president Raj Thackeray announce their alliance for the BMC elections on Wednesday. PIC/ASHISH RAJE
There seems to be unease in the Thackeray cousins’ camp over seat sharing arrangements for the upcoming Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections. Marathi-dominated wards like Dadar, Charkop, Borivli, Kandivli, Bhandup, and a few other wards, are witnessing intense lobbying from both Thackeray camps, with leaders pushing hard to secure favourable seats for their respective parties.
On December 24, Raj Thackeray and Uddhav Thackeray announced an alliance between the Shiv Sena (UBT) and the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) for the BMC elections and a few other key municipal corporation polls. However, the Thackeray cousins have so far declined to reveal the seat sharing formula or the wards each party will contest, fearing that an early announcement could lead to rival parties poaching workers and perhaps trigger unrest or a rebellion within their own ranks.
UBT Sena leaders, on the condition of anonymity, stated that some party workers from both camps are upset, as is natural when any political party contests elections in alliance. “Not everyone can be accommodated for polls due to limitations of an alliance. But for both camps, winning BMC is important. Hence, workers from both sides, especially those who are aspirants but cannot be given tickets, will have to adjust in the larger interest of the Marathi people and Mumbai,” the UBT Sena leader said.
Meanwhile, former MNS leader Prakash Mahajan joined the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena, which is seen as a setback to the party ahead of the civic elections. Mahajan, brother of the late BJP leader Pramod Mahajan, had quit the MNS earlier.
BJP-Shinde Sena alliance
On the other hand, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Eknath Shinde’s Shiv Sena are likely to make a formal announcement of their seat sharing for the BMC and other municipal corporations. Though there has been no official communication from both parties, leaders from the BJP and the Shinde camp are confident of forming an alliance on Saturday or at the latest by Sunday.
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