Mumbai, June 12, 2025 — In a significant political development, the Mahayuti alliance — comprising the BJP, the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena faction, and the Ajit Pawar-led NCP faction — has announced that it will jointly contest the upcoming civic body elections across Maharashtra.
The decision, taken after a series of high-level strategy meetings between the alliance partners, signals a continued show of unity by the ruling coalition in the state, as they seek to replicate their Lok Sabha success at the grassroots level.
A Strategic Power Move
The announcement was made at a joint press conference in Mumbai attended by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis, and Deputy CM Ajit Pawar. The leaders emphasized that the alliance would prioritize seat-sharing talks in key municipal corporations such as Mumbai, Thane, Pune, and Nagpur — where political stakes are high and voter bases are diverse.
“We are together in government, and now we are going to the people together,” said CM Shinde. “Our aim is to provide stable and corruption-free governance at the local level as well.”
Civic Polls in Focus
Elections are due in over a dozen municipal corporations and hundreds of municipal councils and panchayats across Maharashtra, most of which have been functioning under administrative rule due to delays since the pandemic.
Analysts view the upcoming civic polls as a litmus test for the ruling alliance’s grassroots appeal, especially in urban areas like Mumbai, where the opposition MVA (Maha Vikas Aghadi) still maintains a strong influence.
Seat-Sharing Still Under Negotiation
While the Mahayuti partners have agreed to fight together, seat-sharing discussions are ongoing, with each party seeking a fair representation based on past performance and regional influence.
Deputy CM Fadnavis noted,
“We are confident of arriving at a balanced and respectful seat-sharing formula. Our united front is the BJP’s and our allies’ biggest strength.”
However, sources indicate there may be tussles in constituencies where local leaders from different parties have overlapping ambitions.
Opposition Reacts
The opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) — comprising the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT), Sharad Pawar’s NCP faction, and the Congress — dismissed the Mahayuti’s announcement as “political posturing.”
“This alliance is held together only by the desire for power, not by ideology,” said Congress leader Nana Patole. “People at the grassroots level are watching and will respond through the ballot.”
What Lies Ahead
The civic elections are expected to be held later this year, with official dates to be announced by the State Election Commission. As campaigning gears up, all eyes will be on how the Mahayuti alliance manages grassroots coordination and whether it can effectively counter the opposition’s narrative in urban Maharashtra.
Key Takeaway:
Maharashtra’s ruling alliance has decided to face the people together in the civic battleground — turning local polls into a high-stakes test of political unity and influence.
