In a significant political development, senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader and minister Chandrakant Patil disclosed that Union Home Minister Amit Shah has strongly advocated for an electoral alliance between the BJP and the Shiv Sena for the upcoming municipal corporation elections across Maharashtra.
Shah's Directive for Mahayuti Unity
Chandrakant Patil, speaking to the media in Sangli on Friday, stated that the message was clear following a crucial meeting between Amit Shah and Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde in New Delhi last month. The Union Home Minister insisted that the BJP and Shiv Sena should contest the polls together, and possibly bring the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) along as part of the Mahayuti alliance.
This high-level discussion took place amidst reported tensions within the ruling Mahayuti partners over alleged poaching of politicians between the BJP and Shinde's Shiv Sena faction. Patil confirmed that talks regarding a three-party alliance between the BJP, Shiv Sena, and NCP for some of the key municipal corporations are currently underway.
Electoral Preparations and Muslim Outreach in Sangli
Patil was in Sangli to review the BJP's preparations for the Sangli-Miraj-Kupwad Municipal Corporation elections, which are scheduled for January 15 along with polls in 28 other civic bodies across the state. He addressed the party's outreach efforts in the region, particularly in Miraj town, which has a substantial Muslim population.
The BJP minister acknowledged a deliberate campaign to convince Muslim voters that supporting the BJP was detrimental to their interests. However, he countered this narrative, stating, "The fear is fading away, and the community is not to be taken for granted." He pointed to the party's past performance, noting that in the last Sangli corporation election, 11 Muslim candidates contested on a BJP ticket, and three emerged victorious.
"It is wrong to say that the Muslim voter is not with BJP. The recently held Bihar results are a big example," Patil added, referencing the party's performance in recent assembly polls.
Political Significance and NCP's Role
Patil's statements gain importance against the backdrop of local political shifts. On the same Friday evening, several local politicians joined the NCP in the presence of Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar in Miraj. The NCP also boasts local politician Idris Naikwadi as its Member of the Legislative Council (MLC).
Despite these developments, uncertainty remains about whether the NCP will officially contest the municipal elections as part of the Mahayuti coalition. The political maneuvering in Sangli-Miraj-Kupwad is being closely watched as a microcosm of the larger alliance dynamics that will shape the high-stakes civic polls across Maharashtra.
