Daijiworld Media Network – Mumbai
Mumbai, Oct 24: With local body elections expected to be announced soon, political parties have stepped up their preparations across Maharashtra. Over the past few months, significant shifts have been observed among the three major parties in the ruling Mahayuti alliance, indicating intense contests ahead in several municipal corporations, district councils, and town panchayats.
However, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has clarified that the BJP will contest the Mumbai Municipal Corporation elections alongside the Mahayuti alliance, giving relief to the Shinde faction of Shiv Sena. Speaking on the issue, Fadnavis said, “The BJP is likely to win over 100 seats out of 227 in Mumbai. But we will not claim the mayor’s post merely based on numbers. Even if we have the majority, the mayor could be from Shinde’s faction.”
Recollecting the 2017 elections, Fadnavis said that when the BJP-Shiv Sena government was in power and he served his first term as Chief Minister, the BJP had contested all municipal elections independently. In Mumbai, this led to a direct contest between Shiv Sena and the BJP, during which party leaders launched indirect attacks on Uddhav Thackeray, referring to him as ‘Worli’s mafia.’ Shiv Sena won 84 seats, while the BJP secured 82, creating significant tension between the two parties. These strained relations eventually led to Shiv Sena distancing itself from the BJP in 2019 and forming the Maha Vikas Aghadi government. Despite the BJP winning the largest number of seats, it had to sit in opposition due to this alliance shift.
Meanwhile, opposition parties have unanimously demanded that pending issues related to elected representatives be resolved before local body elections are held. Last week, key opposition leaders even met the Election Commission to submit a memorandum highlighting their concerns. Responding to this, Fadnavis stated, “Opposition parties are raising demands, but they do not have any substantial reason. I also raised the issue of irregularities in the electoral roll back in 2012, but the matter is still pending in the courts.”
As the countdown to local elections begins, Fadnavis’ statements signal a strategic approach by the BJP to maintain alliance unity while also aiming for strong electoral performance in Mumbai.