Ahead of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections, the alliance between Uddhav Thackeray of Shiv Sena UBT and Raj Thackeray of MNS has been confirmed. Party MP Sanjay Raut announced the “Manomilan” (Union of Hearts), stating that both parties’ workers have embraced the partnership and are actively collaborating. The finalization of the seat-sharing arrangement occurred recently, with a formal announcement expected soon.
The agreement between the Thackeray brothers has been solidified, and preparations for the coalition are in progress. While the coordination for numerous municipal bodies is time-consuming, the primary agreement has been settled. Discussions have been completed for Nashik, Pune, Kalyan-Dombivli, and Mira-Bhayandar, with ongoing efforts for the BMC seat-sharing details.
Raut emphasized that the alliance is no longer a question of if but rather how the seats will be divided. He assured that there are no internal conflicts regarding seat allocation, emphasizing the unity between the parties. The alliance was further strengthened when the Thackeray cousins jointly opposed the state government’s decision to introduce Hindi in schools alongside Marathi and English.
Discussions are also underway with Jayant Patil of the NCP within the Maha Vikas Aghadi framework, while talks with the Congress are currently closed. Raut hinted at potential future collaborations with the Congress. In contrast to other alliances, the partnership between Shiv Sena(UBT) and MNS has been finalized.
In Sewri, an agreement has been reached where two seats will be contested by Shiv Sena(UBT) and one by MNS. Despite some disagreements, efforts are being made to resolve remaining issues, with Uddhav and Raj Thackeray personally involved. The overall seat-sharing plan for Mumbai is nearing completion.
The reunion of the Thackeray cousins, even if solely political, signifies a significant shift in state politics. This strategic alliance aims to consolidate the Marathi vote bank, presenting a direct challenge to the Shiv Sena and BJP-led by Eknath Shinde.
