Campaign Heat Rises as Allies Clash in Ulhasnagar
The electoral battle for the Ulhasnagar Municipal Corporation has intensified, marked by a rare public spat between ruling alliance partners. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Shiv Sena are contesting the civic polls separately in this city, setting the stage for a direct confrontation. The political temperature soared when former BJP MLA Narendra Pawar launched a sharp critique against the Shiv Sena, questioning the clout of its iconic symbol.
Pawar's Provocative Remark Ignites Debate
In a statement that has stirred the political pot, Narendra Pawar took a clear swipe at the Shiv Sena. He asserted that the "dadagiri of the bow-and-arrow symbol will not work in Ulhasnagar." Drawing parallels with recent municipal council elections, Pawar claimed that similar dominance was defeated in Ambernath and Badlapur and predicted an identical fate for the Sena in the ongoing Ulhasnagar polls.
This direct attack from a BJP leader on its ally brought the underlying tensions within the Mahayuti (grand alliance) to the forefront, creating an awkward moment for the coalition fighting together in other parts of Maharashtra.
Shiv Sena's Call for Restraint and Confidence
The response from the Shiv Sena was swift and came from a senior leader. Shrikant Shinde, the party's MP from the Kalyan Lok Sabha constituency, addressed the controversy during the inauguration of party offices in Ulhasnagar. While naming Pawar, Shinde advised leaders of the Mahayuti to maintain restraint and avoid making public statements against each other.
Shinde provided context, noting that while the Shiv Sena and BJP are contesting together in several municipal corporations, they are fighting independently in some places, including Ulhasnagar. He recalled the recently concluded municipal council elections across Maharashtra, where alliance partners contested separately in many locations but avoided verbal attacks and still posted strong results. He stressed that a similar dignified approach should be followed now.
During his visit, Shrikant Shinde, along with District Chief Gopal Landge, TOK Chief Omie Kalani, and MLA Balaji Kinikar, met Shiv Sena candidates across the city to review campaign progress. He informed workers that in Ulhasnagar, the Shiv Sena, TOK, SAI, and RPI are contesting together as an alliance, and the atmosphere across all panels is positive.
Development Pitch as the Trump Card
Shifting focus from the controversy to governance, MP Shinde highlighted the development works undertaken in the city. He pointed to the construction of cement concrete roads, underground drainage pipelines, no-cash counter hospitals, and an ongoing sports stadium project.
He expressed confidence that voters, after considering the work done by Shiv Sena and its allies, would ensure a decisive victory for the alliance candidates. The message was clear: the campaign should ultimately be fought on the plank of development and performance, not public spats.
As the campaigning enters its final phase, the incident underscores the complex dynamics of Maharashtra's coalition politics, where allies are also competitors at the local level. The outcome in Ulhasnagar will be closely watched as a barometer of these shifting equations.
