Maharashtra BJP chief Ravindra Chavan on Friday said that the state’s ruling parties will contest the municipal corporation and local body elections as part of the Mahayuti alliance, reported the PTI.
The alliance comprises the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena, and the Ajit Pawar-led Nationalist Congress Party (NCP).
In the first phase of the elections, the allies were reportedly competing against each other in several constituencies. Tensions between the BJP and Sena also surfaced after the BJP inducted certain local Sena leaders in Thane district, a stronghold of Shinde.
High-level meetings and strategy
Chavan said that Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, Revenue Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule, and he had held a meeting to plan a roadmap for civic and zilla parishad elections. The BJP’s core committee also discussed poll preparations, according to the PTI.
He further said that the municipal corporation elections are expected to take place in January, while zilla parishad polls may be delayed due to pending matters regarding reservations, which are currently under consideration in the High Court.
Structured seat-sharing mechanism
Chavan stated that CM Fadnavis and Eknath Shinde had stressed the importance of a structured mechanism to finalise a joint election strategy. All leaders reportedly agreed that major elections, including the Mumbai civic polls, should be contested as a unified alliance, as per the PTI.
Committees will be formed at the party level to finalise seat-sharing, taking into account public interest and local conditions, he said.
CM Fadnavis has also suggested the formation of a committee of senior office-bearers to oversee further planning for the municipal elections, ensuring that the alliance contests positively and collectively.
Chavan added that all key election-related decisions will be taken collectively by senior leaders, including Fadnavis, Shinde, and Pawar, to ensure the alliance presents a coordinated approach to voters across Maharashtra.
Polls likely in January
Chavan on Friday said elections to 29 municipal corporations, including the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), are likely to be held in January, the news agency reported.
He said Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis had asked him to hold further discussions on preparations for the civic polls. Following this, he met Chief Minister Eknath Shinde at the latter’s residence on Thursday night.
(with PTI inputs)
