After days of negotiations, the BJP and Shiv Sena have finalized a seat-sharing deal for the upcoming Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections. The BJP, as the senior partner, will contest 137 out of the total 227 seats, while Shiv Sena will field candidates for the remaining 90 seats. Both parties will also allocate some seats to their allies.
The Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), led by Ajit Pawar, has chosen to contest the BMC elections independently and is not part of the BJP-Shiv Sena alliance. The seat-sharing arrangement was jointly announced by Mumbai BJP chief Ameet Satam and Shiv Sena former MP Rahul Shewale.
According to Satam, negotiations among the BJP, Shiv Sena, and RPI have been successfully concluded. The BJP will contest 137 seats, and Shiv Sena will contest 90 seats, with their allies accommodated within their respective quotas. The two parties plan to run a joint campaign to retain control of the BMC.
The recent alliance between Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray and Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) president Raj Thackeray aims to counter the BJP-led Mahayuti in the BMC elections. However, both the BJP and Shiv Sena have downplayed this alliance, emphasizing their commitment to Mumbai’s development.
Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has expressed optimism about the alliance between the BJP and Shiv Sena, stating that discussions on seat-sharing have been positive. He mentioned that BJP State President Ravindra Chavan is leading the negotiations, supported by key leaders.
