In a significant political development ahead of the Nashik Municipal Corporation (NMC) elections, the Shiv Sena and the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) have officially decided to contest the polls as a separate alliance. This move comes after growing frustration over the lack of communication and engagement from their presumed partner, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
Deadline Pressure Forces Alliance Decision
The two parties were forced to chart their own course as the nomination deadline loomed on Tuesday. Deputy leader of Shiv Sena, Vijay Karanjkar, addressed reporters on Monday to clarify the situation. He stated that previous reports of tripartite seat-sharing talks involving the BJP were merely rumours and that no formal understanding had ever been reached between the three groups.
Karanjkar revealed that the Shiv Sena and NCP had submitted their seat-sharing proposals to the BJP a full two weeks ago. Despite repeated attempts to meet BJP leaders at various locations, no productive discussions materialized. "With the nomination deadline falling on Tuesday, we decided to tread a different path and contest the election in an alliance," Karanjkar explained.
"We Waited for Big Brother": Leaders Express Disappointment
The joint press conference was attended by prominent leaders from both parties. NCP leader and minister for food and drugs administration, Narhari Zirwal, was present alongside NCP MLA Hiraman Khoskar, former NCP Nashik MP Sameer Bhujbal, and former Shiv Sena Nashik MP Hemant Godse.
Zirwal expressed the alliance's disappointment, stating, "We considered them (BJP) as big brother and waited for them till now. But we have to get going." When questioned about the possibility of a post-poll alliance with the BJP, Zirwal said that decision would be left to the senior leadership of all parties involved.
Karanjkar, commenting on the status of the larger Mahayuti coalition (which includes the BJP), said, "We are fighting in yuti (alliance), and seat sharing will be discussed and finalised tonight." He emphasized that the new Shiv Sena-NCP combine would focus on fielding the best candidates. Former MP Sameer Bhujbal added that elective merit would prevail over all other decisions to ensure strong candidates could take on the opposition.
Parallels in Ahilyanagar and United MVA Front
This scenario is not isolated to Nashik. In a similar development, the Shiv Sena has decided to go solo in the Ahilyanagar Municipal Corporation elections. Sanjeev Bhor, the Shiv Sena's election in-charge for Ahilyanagar, stated they were waiting for a Mahayuti announcement but were not allotted the seats they demanded, leading to the decision to contest alone.
Meanwhile, in a contrasting show of unity, the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) coalition will be contesting the Nashik city elections unitedly. This presents a clear bifurcation in the political landscape of the region, with the Shiv Sena and NCP now positioned separately from the BJP, while the MVA remains a consolidated bloc.
The formation of this new alliance marks a critical juncture in Maharashtra's complex political equations, setting the stage for a highly competitive election for the Nashik Municipal Corporation.
