BJP–Shiv Sena Split In 15 Municipal Corporations
The BJP and Shiv Sena have formed an alliance in Mumbai, Thane, Kalyan-Dombivli, Panvel, Nagpur and Jalgaon municipal corporations. In Mumbai, it has been decided that the BJP will contest 137 seats and the Shiv Sena 90 seats. In Jalgaon, the BJP will contest 46 seats, the Shiv Sena 23 and the Nationalist Congress Party 6 seats.
Mumbai: Despite being the partners in the ruling Mahayuti alliance in Maharashtra, the BJP and Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena are likely to contest separately in as many as 15 municipal corporations in the state as seat-sharing talks between the two parties have fallen through. However, in Mumbai, both parties have decided to contest together.
Tuesday, which was the last day for filing nominations, witnessed dramatic developments in various cities regarding the seat-sharing. However, ultimately, the leaders of both parties could not reach a consensus on the alliance until the very end, which led to the breakdown of talks in 15 municipal corporations.
The alliance between the BJP and Shiv Sena has broken down in Pune, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Nashik, Nanded, Amravati, Malegaon, Akola, Mira-Bhayandar, Navi Mumbai, Dhule, Ulhasnagar, Sangli, Jalna, Pimpri-Chinchwad and Latur.
The BJP and Shiv Sena have formed an alliance in Mumbai, Thane, Kalyan-Dombivli, Panvel, Nagpur and Jalgaon municipal corporations. In Mumbai, it has been decided that the BJP will contest 137 seats and the Shiv Sena 90 seats. In Jalgaon, the BJP will contest 46 seats, the Shiv Sena 23 and the Nationalist Congress Party 6 seats.
After the municipal election dates were announced, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis had declared that the BJP and Shiv Sena would form an alliance in the majority of municipal corporations. However, it has failed to happen causing a major rift in the alliance. In some places, the Shiv Sena accused the BJP of delaying the seat-sharing agreement for the alliance.
Shiv Sena minister Sanjay Shirsat directly accused the BJP while announcing the decision to break the alliance in Sambhajinagar. “We are breaking the alliance because of the BJP’s arrogance,” he said.
Shirsat said that chief minister Fadnavis and deputy chief minister Eknath Shinde had made efforts to forge an alliance in Sambhaji Nagar. Many meetings were held at the local level. However, it was evident from the beginning that the local BJP leaders had a different stance, which raised doubts in our mind.”
There are reports that CM Fadnavis and DCM Shinde are likely to discuss the matter and make efforts to contest together as an alliance until the last day for withdrawing nominations. The two leaders are expected to discuss the seats where there is a deadlock, said sources.
