Shiv Sena-BJP form alliance for 212 municipal council polls

Danve said the alliance was formed for the 212 municipal council elections across Maharashtra

The two warring alliance partners — the BJP and Shiv Sena — have decided to jointly contest the upcoming elections to municipal councils governing smaller cities. The announcement was made by state BJP president Raosaheb Danve and senior Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut on Thursday.

The announcement was made by state BJP president Raosaheb Danve (pictured) and senior Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut on Thursday.

The decision was taken after day-long deliberations, in which leaders of both parties stated that an alliance was the only way they could gain power in a majority of municipal councils, scheduled in four phases from November to January.

Danve said the alliance was formed for the 212 municipal council elections across Maharashtra. “We have asked the local leaders of both parties to work out the practicalities of the alliance. If differences still persist, the state unit will step in,” said Danve.

The announcement will negatively affect the Congress-Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) alliance, which has a strong presence in the councils. The leaders of both these parties have been lobbying to go solo, but this development may force them to join hands.

However, any decisions to form an alliance for the Mumbai and Thane civic polls will be taken later.Both parties are preparing to go solo for the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections. Though the Shiv Sena shares power with the BJP in both the Centre and State, it has not lost a single opportunity to criticise it as the BJP — once junior ally to the Shiv Sena — has upstaged it. Shiv Sena ministers are being sidelined systematically and the BJP has been taking decisions without taking the party into confidence. The Shiv Sena mouthpiece Saamna has been critical of the Modi-led central government and the Devendra Fadnavis-led state government.