Manas Dasgupta
NEW DELHI, Jan 21: In the post-civic poll scenario the political equations in Maharashtra may be in for surprising changes as in an unexpected move Raj Thackeray’s Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) joined hands with the deputy chief minister Eknath Shinde’s Shiv Sena in Kalyan-Dombivli Municipal Corporation (KDMC) causing a set-back to the Shiv Sena (UBT) led by his cousin brother Uddhav Thackeray with whom he reunited just days before the January 15 elections after a break of over two decades.
The move, coming days after the MNS contested the civic elections against the ruling Mahayuti—including the Shiv Sena—in Kalyan-Dombivli, has also raised questions over the durability of its alliance with the Shiv Sena (UBT) across Maharashtra, and over whether it was a bid to keep the BJP out of power in the civic body.
The KDMC election had thrown up a fractured verdict. In the 122-member corporation, the Shiv Sena won 53 seats, narrowly ahead of the BJP, which secured 50 with neither of the parties having majority on their own making post-poll support crucial. But MNS support of five corporators have further strengthened the Shiv Sena’s claim for the mayor’s post. Following the MNS support, the Shiv Sena on Wednesday registered its group at Konkan Bhavan in Navi Mumbai and submitted a claim before the Konkan divisional commissioner, asserting its position as the single largest party in the civic body.
MNS corporators were also present. MNS leader Raju Patil met Shiv Sena MPs Shrikant Shinde and Naresh Mhaske, following which the MNS formally extended support to the Shinde-led Sena and the announcement was made. Mhaske played down claims that this political realignment points to a split in Mahayuti. “We contested the Kalyan Dombivli municipal election as Shiv Sena-BJP Mahayuti and we will hold power as the Mahayuti,” he said.
Asked about the need for a tie-up with MNS, he replied, “If everyone is coming together for development, we would welcome them. MNS is not AIMIM. This is development politics on a city level. If they want to come with us, we will welcome them.”
MNS leader Raju Patil said the party’s decision was aimed at ensuring “stability” in the civic body. “BJP and Shiv Sena are fighting together. So by supporting them, we are going along with them. There is no question of sidelining them,” he said, adding that a common minimum programme would be prepared if the arrangement works out. Patil said MNS chief Raj Thackeray has granted local leadership the power to make independent decisions based on regional political realities.
MNS leader Bala Nandgaonkar said such alliances take place on “the local level”. Party leader Raju Patil concurred. “The decision was taken based on the local level calculation. There is no selfish interest. Instead of being outside the government, we will be in the government and help give justice to the people of KDMC. Ultimately, when we are in government, we can give justice to people by doing their work,” he explained.
Both Patil and party leader Sandeep Deshpande said that Raj Thackeray had given local leaders the leeway to make decisions.
Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut has responded strongly to the developments. “Those who betray Maharashtra are traitors, and those who go along with them also deserve the same description. Just because one did not get power or gain anything, acting dishonestly in this way will not be forgiven by Maharashtra. You may have personal reasons, but they should remain personal,” he told the media.
“The Kalyan-Dombivli issue has enraged Uddhav Thackeray. He said he has spoken to Raj saheb, who pointed out that some people have the mentality of leaving if they don’t get anything,” Raut said, adding, “People who switch parties in this manner are political psychopaths.” Raut said the MNS leadership must take a stand. “Shiv Sena and MNS are together. They fought the election together. At such a time, if someone gets elected on a symbol and then betrays it, the party and its leadership must take a stand.”
With MNS’s backing, the Shiv Sena (Shinde faction) effectively gains the support of 58 corporators, significantly boosting the ruling Mahayuti alliance’s prospects in the civic body and further consolidating its control over KDMC. On the MNS decision to support Shiv Sena, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Anil Parab said, “This is their (Raj Thackeray’s) party’s decision. We will only talk about our own party.”
The Maharashtra government has initiated the process for electing mayors in Kalyan-Dombivli and 28 other municipal corporations, with the lottery for mayoral post reservations scheduled to be held on January 22. The Urban Development Department has issued an order stating that the draw of lots will take place at the state secretariat.
In Maharashtra, mayors are elected by elected corporators, and the post is reserved on a rotational basis. The lottery determines the category for which the mayor’s post will be reserved — including general, women, Scheduled Caste (SC), Scheduled Tribe (ST), and Other Backward Classes (OBC).
Once the reservation category is announced, eligible candidates submit their nominations. The mayor is then elected in a special meeting of the municipal corporation, where the candidate securing more than half of the total strength of the House is declared elected. While a party with a clear majority can elect its candidate independently, alliances often play a crucial role in closely contested civic bodies.