Maharashtra Congress leaders met Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray at his residence Matoshree in Bandra area of Mumbai on Monday to hold discussions on the upcoming local body elections and the vacant Leader of the Opposition (LoP) posts in the Maharashtra state legislature, reported the PTI.
The Congress delegation included Balasaheb Thorat, Vijay Wadettiwar, the leader of the Congress Legislative Party (CLP), and Amin Patel, the party’s chief whip.
“We had a detailed discussion over the upcoming local body polls. We also discussed the appointment of LoPs in the legislative council and the assembly,” Thorat told reporters after the meeting, according to the PTI.
The LoP position in the legislative assembly has been vacant since Wadettiwar’s term ended following the November 2024 assembly elections.
Meanwhile, the LoP post in the legislative council has also fallen vacant after Ambadas Danve of Shiv Sena (UBT) completed his term in August 2025.
The Shiv Sena (UBT) has already staked its claim to the LoP post in the assembly, while the Congress is eyeing the LoP post in the council.
Currently the Shiv Sena (UBT) holds 20 MLAs, the highest among the opposition. In the 78-member legislative council Congress has 7 MLCs, Sena (UBT) has 6 MLCs, NCP (Sharad Pawar faction) has 3 MLCs, Independents: 3 MLCs, BJP: 22 MLCs, Shiv Sena (Eknath Shinde faction): 7 MLCs, NCP (Ajit Pawar faction): 8 MLCs. There are currently 22 vacant seats
Speaking after the meeting, Wadettiwar said, “We held discussions with Thackeray on how the local elections should be contested.”
He also confirmed that Congress leaders will soon meet NCP (SP) president Sharad Pawar as part of alliance-level discussions.
When asked about Shiv Sena (UBT)`s possible alliance with Raj Thackeray`s Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS), Wadettiwar said, “There was a discussion on it. We will also consult our high command and comment later.”
Although the MNS is not officially part of the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) alliance — which currently comprises Shiv Sena (UBT), Congress, and NCP (Sharad Pawar faction) — there are strong indications that Uddhav Thackeray’s party may align with the MNS for the local body elections.
(with PTI inputs)
