Daijiworld Media Network - Mumbai
Mumbai, Jan 21: Maharashtra politics witnessed yet another dramatic twist following the recently concluded municipal corporation elections, with shifting alliances redefining equations on the ground. In Kalyan-Dombivli, the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena has set aside its long-standing rivalry with Raj Thackeray’s Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) to forge a post-poll alliance aimed at preventing the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) from capturing the mayor’s post.
In the elections to the 122-member Kalyan-Dombivli Municipal Corporation (KDMC), the BJP emerged as a strong contender by winning 50 seats in what is considered a stronghold of Chief Minister Eknath Shinde. The Shinde-led Shiv Sena secured 53 seats, while the MNS managed to win five seats. Uddhav Thackeray’s Shiv Sena (UBT) faction won 11 seats. The majority mark in the civic body stands at 62.
Despite being partners in the ruling Mahayuti alliance at the state level, the BJP and the Shinde Sena are locked in a direct contest for control of the KDMC mayor’s post. Following a high-level meeting held at Konkan Bhavan on Wednesday, Shinde Sena MP and the chief minister’s son, Shrikant Shinde, confirmed the alliance with the MNS. With this tie-up, the combined strength of the two parties has reached 58 seats, falling just short of the required majority.
Shrikant Shinde indicated that the alliance is hopeful of securing the support of at least four corporators from the Shiv Sena (UBT) faction. Such backing would push the grouping past the majority mark and allow it to form the civic administration without relying on the BJP.
The development is seen as a setback for the BJP, which has been pressing for a power-sharing formula, including a 2.5-year split term for the mayor’s post. In contrast, the Shinde Sena is keen on retaining the mayoralty for the full term. In the previous KDMC elections, the undivided Shiv Sena had emerged as the single largest party with 52 seats.
The post-poll realignments reflect a broader trend across Maharashtra. Earlier this month, similar political manoeuvres were witnessed in the Ambernath and Akola municipal councils, which went to the polls in December 2025. In Ambernath, the BJP allied with the Congress, while in Akola it tied up with Asaduddin Owaisi’s AIMIM. However, both alliances later drew criticism from party leaderships, with the Congress suspending 12 corporators in Ambernath.
The developments in Kalyan-Dombivli come amid continuing suspense over the formation of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC). Although the BJP-Shinde Sena combine has enough numbers to form the civic body after ending the Thackeray family’s nearly three-decade dominance, consensus on the mayor’s post remains elusive. The Mahayuti alliance won 118 wards, crossing the majority mark of 114 in the 227-member BMC.
High drama unfolded after Eknath Shinde moved 29 newly elected Shiv Sena corporators to a five-star hotel amid fears of poaching. They were allowed to leave only after receiving their winning certificates and the issuance of a gazette notification.
The high-stakes civic polls have once again exposed the faultlines within the Mahayuti, underlining how municipal politics in Maharashtra continues to produce unexpected alliances and power struggles.