Raj-Uddhav alliance in trouble? MNS-Shindes Sena may tie up in Kalyan Dombivli municipal corporation

New Delhi: The recent elections to the municipal corporations in Maharashtra, especially the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) polls, grabbed the attention of the rest of the nation for their intricate politics and alliances.

Now, in a move which has surprised everyone, Eknath Shinde's Shiv Sena is reportedly planning to join hands with the newly elected corporators of the Raj Thackeray-led Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) in the Kalyan Dombivli municipal corporation. Notably, Shinde is a part of the Mahayuti alliance along with the BJP.

Before the BMC elections, Raj Thackeray teamed up with his cousin and Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray after years of rivalry. However, the BJP-Shinde's Sena alliance clinched victory in the BMC election, but they are yet to come to a decisive conclusion for the Mayor post.

In the Kalyan Dombivli polls, the Sena won 53 seats, and the BJP won 50 seats, together surpassing the majority mark of 62. However, both parties reportedly want the Mayor post, and it has brought the five MNS corporators there into play. If the Shinde Sena ties up with these five, the tally climbs to 58, four short of the majority. Apart from these parties, Shiv Sena (UBT) won 11 seats, while NCP (SP) won one, and Congress won two seats.

Shinde and Naresh Mhaske of the Sena have reportedly met MNS leader Raju Patil. However, Mhaske played down claims of a surprising alliance and said, "We contested the Kalyan Dombivli municipal election as Shiv Sena-BJP Mahayuti, and we will hold power as the Mahayuti."

Will there be a tie-up with MNS? he said, "If everyone is coming together for development, we would welcome them. MNS is not AIMIM. This is development politics on a city level. If they want to come with us, we will welcome them."

Meanwhile, MNS leader Raju Patil has reportedly said, "BJP and Shiv Sena are fighting together. So by supporting them, we are going along with them. There is no question of sidelining them." Patil said that Raj Thackeray has allowed the local leadership of MNS to make independent decisions based on the political realities of those regions.

Add TV9 English As A Trusted Source

However, Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut said, "Those who betray Maharashtra are traitors, and those who go along with them also deserve the same description. Just because one did not get power or gain anything, acting dishonestly in this way will not be forgiven by Maharashtra. You may have personal reasons, but they should remain personal."

He added that Uddhav is enraged by the Kalyan-Dombivli issue and said, "People who switch parties in this manner are political psychopaths. Shiv Sena and MNS are together. They fought the election together. At such a time, if someone gets elected on a symbol and then betrays it, the party and its leadership must take a stand."