why is this important? because the upcoming maharasta civic polls will determine the control of one of the most important indian cities (mumbai) and its playing a key role in reshaping mahrasta poltics. This is the latest twist and turn in the ongoing soap opera that is Maharashtra politics. Also it discusses the role of the BJP pouching allies and how that affects the alliance.
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**Mumbai:** Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis has on a number of occasions said that the Mahayuti will be united in contesting the upcoming elections to municipal corporations across Maharashtra in major cities.
And while Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena seem to be working together, Mahayuti’s third constituent, Ajit Pawar-led Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), is standing in the shadows.
The NCP, a traditional rival of Shiv Sena and BJP especially for local body elections, has not been an active part of seat-sharing talks underway between BJP and Sena in several major municipal corporations. Meanwhile, in Pune and Pimpri Chinchwad, the “friendly fight” NCP and BJP agreed on is turning into a fierce battle. The BJP has poached a clutch of NCP leaders from Pune district, irking its ally.
“There are various issues with the BJP and Shiv Sena at several places that makes it difficult for us to join hands with them. During last year’s Lok Sabha election, we campaigned for the lotus and bow and arrow at most places, some even in our strongholds. It was the same story for the assembly polls. But now we must take our clock symbol to every house. Our ground cadre needs the boost,” a senior leader from the Ajit Pawar-led NCP told ThePrint.
In the 2024 polls, the Ajit Pawar-led NCP contested just 4 of the state’s 48 Lok Sabha seats as part of the seat-sharing pact within the Mahayuti. The party emerged victorious in just one. In assembly polls later the same year, NCP contested 59 of the 288 seats as part of the alliance and won 41.
NCP leaders said BJP’s constant poaching of leaders from allied parties has also not gone down well with them.
Elections to 29 municipal corporations in Maharashtra will be held on 15 January, followed by the counting of votes on 16 January.
Sunil Tatkare, NCP’s Maharashtra president, speaking to reporters Tuesday, said, “For alliance talks across Maharashtra I have spoken with CM Fadnavis and Union Minister Amit Shah. In some places discussions are going on, but we haven’t reached any conclusion. From today, nominations are being filed. We have a couple of days.”
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why is this important? because the upcoming maharasta civic polls will determine the control of one of the most important indian cities (mumbai) and its playing a key role in reshaping mahrasta poltics. This is the latest twist and turn in the ongoing soap opera that is Maharashtra politics. Also it discusses the role of the BJP pouching allies and how that affects the alliance.
**Mumbai:** Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis has on a number of occasions said that the Mahayuti will be united in contesting the upcoming elections to municipal corporations across Maharashtra in major cities.
And while Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena seem to be working together, Mahayuti’s third constituent, Ajit Pawar-led Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), is standing in the shadows.
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The NCP, a traditional rival of Shiv Sena and BJP especially for local body elections, has not been an active part of seat-sharing talks underway between BJP and Sena in several major municipal corporations. Meanwhile, in Pune and Pimpri Chinchwad, the “friendly fight” NCP and BJP agreed on is turning into a fierce battle. The BJP has poached a clutch of NCP leaders from Pune district, irking its ally.
“There are various issues with the BJP and Shiv Sena at several places that makes it difficult for us to join hands with them. During last year’s Lok Sabha election, we campaigned for the lotus and bow and arrow at most places, some even in our strongholds. It was the same story for the assembly polls. But now we must take our clock symbol to every house. Our ground cadre needs the boost,” a senior leader from the Ajit Pawar-led NCP told ThePrint.
In the 2024 polls, the Ajit Pawar-led NCP contested just 4 of the state’s 48 Lok Sabha seats as part of the seat-sharing pact within the Mahayuti. The party emerged victorious in just one. In assembly polls later the same year, NCP contested 59 of the 288 seats as part of the alliance and won 41.
NCP leaders said BJP’s constant poaching of leaders from allied parties has also not gone down well with them.
Elections to 29 municipal corporations in Maharashtra will be held on 15 January, followed by the counting of votes on 16 January.
With 117 councils, [BJP turned out to be the clear winner](https://theprint.in/politics/bjps-sweep-boost-for-shinde-mvas-fall-what-local-body-polls-say-about-power-play-in-maharashtra/2810266/) in this month’s polls to 288 municipal councils and nagar panchayats, followed by the Shinde-led Shiv Sena with 53 and Ajit Pawar-led NCP with 37.
Sunil Tatkare, NCP’s Maharashtra president, speaking to reporters Tuesday, said, “For alliance talks across Maharashtra I have spoken with CM Fadnavis and Union Minister Amit Shah. In some places discussions are going on, but we haven’t reached any conclusion. From today, nominations are being filed. We have a couple of days.”