MUMBAI: The long-awaited political reunion of the Thackeray brothers came after 20 years, with the two joining hands ahead of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) polls on Wednesday. Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) and the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) announced an alliance for the BMC and other civic body elections shortly after Uddhav and Raj Thackeray paid tribute to Balasaheb Thackeray at Shivaji Park. With their agreement on seat-sharing finalised, the two parties will contest the upcoming municipal corporation polls together. The formal announcement was made at a joint press conference in Worli. According to Sena (UBT) functionaries, the proposed seat-sharing formula for the BMC allocates 145 to 150 seats to Sena (UBT), 65 to 70 seats to the MNS, while 10 to 12 seats are to be given to the NCP (SP). Sena (UBT) has also “left” 12 to 15 seats where it earlier had corporators for the MNS. In a majority of these wards, the former corporators have since joined the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena. Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut said the issue regarding Congress was currently closed, but added that Sena (UBT) would continue talks with the party. Congress has decided to go it alone in the BMC polls. Raut said the final touches to the alliance were completed late Monday night. “The Sena (UBT) and MNS workers have accepted the alliance. There is no disagreement over seat-sharing. The alliance was formed when the two brothers came together in Worli in July,” he said. He further said, “The issue of seat-sharing in Nashik, Pune, Kalyan-Dombivli Municipal Corporation (KDMC), Thane, and Mira Bhayandar is over. Discussions are under way with NCP (SP) MLA Jayant Patil regarding an alliance. He is also in talks with Uddhav Thackeray.” However, the alliance has triggered sharp reactions from rival Shiv Sena leaders. Expressing strong disapproval, Shiv Sena leader Raju Waghmare criticised the cousins’ visit to Balasaheb Thackeray’s memorial and accused both leaders of betraying his legacy. “Raj and Uddhav Thackeray are going to Balasaheb Thackeray’s Shivaji Park Smriti Sthal to pay homage. Hindu Hriday Samrat Balasaheb Thackeray, our idol, will never forgive these two brothers. Raj Thackeray betrayed Balasaheb Thackeray and gave him a big scar. Uddhav Thackeray, on the other hand, betrayed Balasaheb Thackeray’s ideology The Marathi people will never forget this. No matter what they do now, it will not help them. When it comes to seat-sharing, their party workers are very nervous and angry because they have been fighting each other for nearly two decades and now have to sacrifice their seats,” Waghmare said. Congress, which has been an ally of Sena (UBT) at the state level, has not joined the civic poll alliance but sees political significance in the reunion of the Thackeray cousins, claiming it signals cracks within the ruling Mahayuti. Congress leader Atul Londhe said, “There is talk that Ajit Pawar and Sharad Pawar may come together. Does this mean the Mahayuti has suffered a split?” The Maharashtra State Election Commission has announced elections to 29 municipal corporations, including the BMC, Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) and Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC). Polling will be held on January 15, with counting scheduled for January 16. Meanwhile, the ruling Mahayuti—comprising the BJP, Shiv Sena and NCP—has dominated recent local body elections across 286 municipal councils and nagar panchayats. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, congratulating BJP workers, said the results were a “trailer” for the upcoming civic polls.
