The ruling Mahayuti alliance in Maharashtra, comprising the Shiv Sena and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), has successfully concluded its seat-sharing negotiations for the upcoming Thane Municipal Corporation elections. The deal was finalized late on Monday following a crucial joint meeting of senior leaders from both parties.
The Seat Distribution Formula
According to the agreement reached, the Shiv Sena will contest from 87 electoral wards, while its ally, the BJP, has been allotted 40 seats. The remaining four wards in the civic body will see candidates from the newly formed Mumbra Vikas Aghadi in the fray. The formal announcement of candidate names for these seats is anticipated on Tuesday.
Sources closely involved with the negotiations indicated that while the broad formula is set, minor adjustments could still occur at the eleventh hour. These potential last-minute changes are being considered to account for the possibility of local workers switching their political loyalties, a common concern ahead of local body polls.
Immediate Backlash and Protests
The announcement of the pact, however, was swiftly followed by signs of internal dissent within the alliance, particularly in the BJP camp. Late on Monday night, angry supporters of a former BJP aspirant stormed the party's headquarters located in Pokhran 2, Thane.
The protestors vociferously questioned the party leadership's decision to award a ticket to former corporator Amit Saraiya from ward 15. Saraiya recently defected from the Nationalist Congress Party (Sharadchandra Pawar) faction. The protestors accused the party of prioritizing a new entrant over loyal, long-standing party workers and hopefuls. The situation required police intervention to disperse the crowd and prevent any escalation.
Dissent Beyond the Alliance
Similar scenes of discontent were reported outside the Congress party's headquarters in Thane later the same evening. This occurred after the party declared its intention to contest the civic polls independently. Loyal party members expressed their frustration and anger over the distribution of tickets, highlighting that internal strife over candidate selection is not confined to the ruling alliance.
Senior leaders from Thane-based political parties were not immediately available for comment on these developments. The swift finalization of the Mahayuti deal and the subsequent unrest underscore the high-stakes nature of the Thane municipal elections, setting the stage for a competitive and closely watched political battle.
