Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has publicly explained the Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) decision to contest a lower number of seats compared to its ally, the Shiv Sena, in the upcoming Thane Municipal Corporation elections. The move, he stated, was a strategic compromise aimed at preserving alliance harmony and avoiding any discord with Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde.
Alliance Discipline Over Seat Numbers
Speaking at a public interview at Gadkari Rangayatan in Thane on Wednesday, Fadnavis acknowledged that there was significant internal pressure from the party's local cadre to contest the civic polls independently. The local BJP workers, buoyed by the party's growing strength, had strongly advocated for going solo. This sentiment was formally conveyed to the state leadership by Maharashtra BJP president Ravindra Chavan.
However, Fadnavis emphasized that the top leadership made a conscious decision to prioritize the stability of the Mahayuti alliance. "We did not want to disturb Shinde ji. He is the chief of the Sena that follows Balasaheb’s ideology, and Thane is his identity. We did not want to disturb him for a few seats," Fadnavis said. He added that the party chose to fight together with the Shiv Sena, even if it meant accepting a smaller share of the electoral pie.
Recognizing Thane's Political Reality
The Chief Minister pointed out that the political ground reality in Thane could not be ignored in the seat-sharing calculus. "The Shiv Sena has been the main political force in Thane for 25 years. Thane was Balasaheb Thackeray’s city, and it is also Eknath Shinde’s political base," he noted. Fadnavis argued that a separate fight based solely on seat calculations might have yielded power but would have sown long-term bitterness, damaging the coalition.
Under the finalized Mahayuti arrangement for the 131-member Thane civic body:
- The Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena will contest 87 seats.
- The BJP will field candidates in 40 seats.
- The Ajit Pawar-led NCP, another Mahayuti ally, will fight 75 seats independently.
- Smaller allies have been allotted the remaining 4 seats.
Subtle Digs at Thackerays and Focus on Governance
During the interaction, Fadnavis also took indirect aim at Uddhav Thackeray and Raj Thackeray, suggesting they were attempting to project themselves as standalone political brands. "In Maharashtra, Balasaheb Thackeray was the only real brand. After him, there is no individual brand," he stated, asserting that the Shinde-Fadnavis partnership was robust enough to withstand such narratives.
He framed the BJP's concession as a far-sighted move for stable governance. "Sometimes, taking fewer seats helps ensure stability. In the long run, that matters more than numbers," Fadnavis remarked. He expressed confidence that voters would evaluate the ruling alliance on its performance and development work rather than the arithmetic of seat distribution.
The opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) coalition's seat breakdown for Thane includes the Shiv Sena (UBT) contesting 53 seats, the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) 34, the NCP (Sharadchandra Pawar) 36, and the Congress 96 seats.
