Pune: As the Shiv Sena (UBT)-MNS alliance has urged NCP(SP) to join their alliance for the poll to the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), Sharad Pawar‘s party has demanded the Thackeray cousins increase its share of seats to a “respectable figure”.NCP(SP)’s former state chief Jayant Patil recently met Sena (UBT) president Uddhav Thackeray to discuss the alliance possibility.However, some seats in BMC have become a bone of contention. Speaking about the hurdle in the alliance talks, the state president of NCP(SP), Shashikant Shinde, said, “There are some seats in Mumbai where our party has a strong presence, but they have gone to Sena (UBT) and MNS. We are appealing to these parties, especially Uddhav Thackeray, to show a big heart and give us those seats. If they agree, an alliance will be finalised soon.”Sena (UBT) member Sanjay Raut said every party has to make certain compromises in alliances, but he is still hopeful that NCP(SP) would go with the Thackeray cousins in Mumbai. “We want a senior politician like Sharad Pawar on our side when we go to the polls. We had positive rounds of talks with their leadership, and frankly, I do not see any problem in forming an alliance with them. They wanted certain seats, and our party is ready to give those seats to Pawar’s party by making a compromise,” Raut said.The Thackeray cousins have come together at both family and political levels nearly after two decades. While they intend to take on formidable opponents like BJP and deputy chief minister Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena, they are trying to get Sharad Pawar’s party on their side.However, MVA’s other partner, Congress, is not ready for an alliance with MNS. Considering the presence of Raj Thackeray’s party in Mumbai, Navi Mumbai, Thane, Pune and Nashik, Sena (UBT) and MNS have decided to go together in these municipal corporations.
