In a significant political shift, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has decided to contest the upcoming Ulhasnagar Municipal Corporation (UMC) elections independently, marking an end to its local alliance with the Shiv Sena. This move comes on the heels of the party's recent successes in the Ambernath and Badlapur municipal councils and is driven by the growing partnership between the Shiv Sena and the local rival party, Team Omie Kalani (TOK).
Preparations in Full Swing for a Solo Fight
The BJP has intensified its groundwork for the civic polls, aiming to field candidates for all 78 seats in the UMC. Party sources indicate that the response has been overwhelming, with more than 800 aspirants already vying for tickets. The interview process for these hopefuls has been completed, signaling the party's readiness for a full-fledged solo campaign.
Despite several high-level meetings in Mumbai between BJP and Shiv Sena leaders concerning the broader Mahayuti alliance, no discussions have taken place between the local leadership of the two parties in Ulhasnagar specifically about the civic elections. The BJP has squarely blamed the Shiv Sena for this impasse, citing its local-level alliance with TOK as the primary reason for the breakdown.
The Core of the Conflict: Seat-Sharing and Defections
The political rift was exacerbated earlier when four former senior BJP corporators left the party and joined TOK just ahead of the elections. This defection created visible tensions between the erstwhile allies.
BJP Ulhasnagar District president, Rajesh Vadhrya, confirmed to the media that no alliance talks have been held with the Shiv Sena so far. Elaborating on the party's stance, BJP election in-charge Pradeep Ramchandani stated that any future discussion would require clear terms on seat-sharing. He pointed to the previous election results, where the BJP won 44 seats and the Shiv Sena 25 seats as part of their alliance.
"Only if Shiv Sena agrees to a similar arrangement and discusses the remaining nine seats will we move forward with talks," Ramchandani asserted, setting a firm precondition for any negotiation.
Shiv Sena's Counter and the Current Equation
On the other side, Shiv Sena city chief Rajendra Chaudhary presented a different picture. He claimed that the Shiv Sena, along with its local allies TOK and the SAI party, currently commands the support of 55 out of 78 corporators in the corporation.
"Under these circumstances, we are willing to offer the BJP the remaining 23 seats," Chaudhary said, indicating the Shiv Sena's perception of its own strength in the current political landscape.
Sources reveal that the Shiv Sena has already initiated local-level discussions with TOK and the SAI party, while its leaders seem to be avoiding direct talks with the BJP. This strategy is adding to the political uncertainty in Ulhasnagar as the city heads towards a high-stakes civic poll that could redefine local power equations.
