Maharashtra – The Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT) and Raj Thackeray’s Maharashtra Navnirman Sena are set to announce today their historic civic polls alliance for the January 15 elections. This unprecedented political reunion between the estranged Thackeray cousins marks a significant shift in Maharashtra’s political landscape.
Marathon Negotiations Conclude
The announcement of the civic polls alliance follows marathon meetings between the two sides over the past few weeks to finalize the seat-sharing arrangement for elections to 29 municipal corporations in Maharashtra, including the prestigious Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation. The extensive negotiations demonstrate the complexity of bringing together two parties that have been adversaries for nearly two decades.
People familiar with the matter confirmed that the civic polls alliance would be formally announced at a joint press conference, marking a watershed moment in Maharashtra politics.
Formal Announcement Scheduled
Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut alluded to the proposed joint press conference in a post on social media, sharing a throwback photo of the two Thackeray cousins from July 27 when Raj visited Uddhav at his Bandra residence to wish him on his birthday. In an accompanying caption, Raut indicated that the civic polls alliance announcement would take place at 12 o’clock today.
Leaders from both parties confirmed that Raj Thackeray had been keen to complete the seat-sharing talks before announcing the formal civic polls alliance, which delayed the formal announcement until all details were finalized.
Seat Sharing Challenges Resolved
The civic polls alliance negotiations encountered differences between the two sides in seat allocation in several key Mumbai areas. These included the Dadar, Mahim, Borivali, Vikhroli, Bhandup, and Sewri areas, where both parties have traditional strongholds and loyal voter bases.
Although the two parties are primarily focusing on Mumbai for the civic polls alliance, they are also likely to contest elections in Thane, Kalyan-Dombivli, Nashik, and other cities across Maharashtra. In total, 29 cities in the state will go to the polls on January 15.
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Electoral Context and Motivation
The civic polls alliance comes against the backdrop of the 2024 assembly election when both parties underperformed significantly. The Shiv Sena (UBT) won just 20 seats in the state assembly, while the MNS drew a complete blank, failing to secure even a single seat.
This poor performance created the political imperative for the civic polls alliance, as both parties recognized the need to consolidate Marathi votes and present a united front against their common rivals.
Journey Toward Reconciliation
An effort to bring the two estranged cousins together for the civic polls alliance began soon after the assembly election setback. On July 5, the two brothers shared a stage in public for the first time in nearly two decades at a rally in Worli. The event celebrated the Mahayuti government’s decision to roll back its controversial order introducing Hindi as a third language in primary schools across Maharashtra.
On July 27, Raj visited Uddhav to wish him on his birthday, marking another step toward the civic polls alliance that is being announced today.
Historical Context of the Split
Raj quit the undivided Shiv Sena in 2005 over apparent differences with Uddhav and formed the MNS. The relationship grew increasingly bitter over the years, with both parties competing for the same Marathi voter base and often attacking each other publicly.
However, the political realities in Maharashtra forced them to set aside their differences for the civic polls alliance, recognizing that cooperation offered better prospects than continued competition.
Coalition Coordination Complexities
Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Anil Parab explained that the two parties scheduled the civic polls alliance announcement for today because the Uddhav-led Sena expected to finalize its pact with the Sharad Pawar-led Nationalist Congress Party (SP) by Tuesday evening.
The Congress has refused to join the civic polls alliance due to MNS’s past anti-migrant agitations, which targeted North Indian migrants in Maharashtra and created significant controversy.
Strategic Seat Distribution
Sena (UBT) leaders involved in the civic polls alliance indicated there were 40 BMC seats where neither party had strong candidates. A decision on who would contest these seats and which candidates to field would be made through mutual consultation and strategic assessment.
This collaborative approach in the civic polls alliance demonstrates both parties’ commitment to maximizing their combined electoral prospects rather than competing against each other.
Opposition Criticism
BJP spokesperson Navnath Ban criticized the civic polls alliance, stating it was not born out of people’s trust but out of fear of defeat. He characterized the arrangement as a reflection of deep differences rather than a genuine meeting of minds.
Ban argued that the civic polls alliance represented an act of coming together only for elections by drawing a curtain over ideological disagreements, leadership egos, and past bitterness. He predicted that Mumbai voters would reject what he called political drama.
Looking Ahead
The civic polls alliance announcement today represents a historic moment in Maharashtra politics. The reunion of the Thackeray cousins, motivated by electoral necessity and changing political dynamics, will test whether their combined strength can challenge the ruling Mahayuti alliance in the upcoming municipal elections across 29 cities in the state.
