The Shiv Sena (UBT) is considering contesting the upcoming Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections independently, amidst growing pressure from local leaders and former corporators across Mumbai. This shift comes as tensions within the existing alliance, particularly with Congress, continue to surface.
On Thursday, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader and Member of Parliament Sanjay Raut hinted at the party’s intention to fight the elections without an alliance. Drawing a parallel with the Delhi elections, where AAP and Congress are contesting separately, Raut suggested that a similar scenario could unfold in Mumbai. He also pointed out that AAP leaders have been more engaged with the Shiv Sena (UBT) faction than Congress leaders, signaling a potential shift in alliances.
This development is set against the backdrop of a growing political camaraderie between Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray and AAP national convenor Arvind Kejriwal. Recently, the Thackeray faction has shown increasing support for AAP, with the party’s mouthpiece, Saamana, publishing an editorial that criticized Congress for directing more attacks towards AAP than BJP. The editorial also noted that while AAP and Congress are formally part of the INDIA alliance, their separate campaigns in Delhi may serve as a model for Mumbai as well.
Raut reiterated that Shiv Sena (UBT) is open to evaluating its position regarding Delhi, with a possible preference for supporting AAP, given the frequent communication between the two parties. This development suggests that Shiv Sena (UBT) may indeed mirror AAP’s approach and contest the Mumbai elections without an alliance with Congress.
