The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has finalised its decision to contest the upcoming municipal corporation elections in alliance with the Shiv Sena under the Mahayuti banner, Revenue Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule said on Tuesday. Addressing a press conference in Nagpur, Bawankule stated that the decision has been taken at the senior leadership level.
He said the BJP and Shiv Sena share a long-standing “natural alliance,” particularly in major civic bodies such as Nagpur and Mumbai municipal corporations. “Where BJP is strong, Shiv Sena will be supported, and where Shiv Sena has strength, BJP will back it. This understanding has already been finalised,” he said.
Bawankule added that discussions between BJP and Shiv Sena are still underway in Pune, Pimpri-Chinchwad and Nashik. After seat-sharing is finalised with Shiv Sena, talks will be held with other Mahayuti partners. He said the Mahayuti will contest the elections together in Amravati, and confirmed that Ravi Rana’s Yuva Swabhiman Party will continue to be part of the alliance.
Responding to questions about the promotion of Aaditya Thackeray, Bawankule said there was nothing new in it, recalling that Uddhav Thackeray had promoted his son when he was Chief Minister. On NCP leader Ajit Pawar, he said Pawar would decide his own political course, stressing the need to focus on election preparation.
Commenting on speculation about Uddhav Thackeray and Raj Thackeray coming together in Mumbai, Bawankule said such equations emerge when public support weakens. He questioned Shiv Sena (UBT)’s vision for Mumbai, noting that the party had held the mayor’s post for several years but failed to deliver.
👉 Click here to read the latest Gujarat news on TheLiveAhmedabad.com