The election of Syed Iqbal Syed Khaja, a Shiv Sena-UBT corporator, as the Mayor of the Parbhani Municipal Corporation has ignited a political dispute between the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) and the ruling Mahayuti alliance in Maharashtra. The MVA clinched both the Mayor and Deputy Mayor positions in the civic body, with Congress corporator Ganesh Deshmukh elected as Deputy Mayor.
The appointment of a Muslim Mayor has drawn criticism from the BJP and the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena. Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde accused Uddhav Thackeray of straying from the Shiv Sena’s core beliefs, citing the event as validation of the 2022 party split. BJP legislator Chitra Wagh also questioned the move, insinuating ulterior motives behind the decision.
In response to the backlash, Shiv Sena (UBT) deputy leader Sushma Andhare defended the election, challenging the objections raised by the BJP. Andhare emphasized that the mayoral election in Parbhani, where a Muslim corporator was elected Mayor, should not be a cause for uproar given the city’s demographic composition. The voting process, which saw Syed Iqbal Syed Khaja secure 39 votes in the 65-member corporation, highlighted a strategic move by the MVA with NCP corporators Akshay Deshmukh and Razia Begum opting not to support the BJP candidate.
The outcome in Parbhani reflects a coordinated effort among MVA partners, aimed at advancing the city’s development agenda under new leadership. Meanwhile, the Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee President praised the alliance’s unity in supporting the Shiv Sena (UBT) to thwart BJP’s control over the civic body. However, he criticized the Shiv Sena (UBT) for its conflicting stance in Chandrapur, alleging a lack of reciprocity within the alliance.
