The alliance between Uddhav Thackeray and Raj Thackeray is almost finalized before the BMC elections 2026. It was learned from sources that Thackeray brothers are going to announce their coming together through a press conference on Wednesday, 24th December. However, now there is talk of putting brakes on this alliance by Raj Thackeray’s Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS), due to which the political temperature has become high in the opposition alliance party.

In fact, MNS’s stance is that the alliance should not be announced until seat sharing is complete and a final decision is taken from both sides.

Talks on seats are still going on

Actually, MNS soldiers are curious about when the alliance between Uddhav Thackeray’s Shiv Sena UBT and Raj Thackeray’s MNS will be announced. However, since the final talks on seat sharing are still going on and consensus has not yet been reached on some seats, there is talk of some delay in the announcement of the alliance.

Alliance should be announced only after resolving differences- MNS

Sources say that talks are still going on between the two sides on some seats. Wherever there are differences, efforts are being made to resolve them. Therefore, MNS has taken the stand that the alliance will not be announced until these differences are resolved.

Where is the disagreement between the Thackeray brothers?

According to the information received so far through sources, discussion is going on in MVA on Amrathi departments of Mumbai. Talks are going on as to what should be done in the Amrathi departments of Mumbai like Ghatkopar, Kandivali, Borivali, Mulund. At the same time, till now Raj Thackeray’s MNS has been given 65-70 seats. At the same time, Uddhav Thackeray is expected to have 145 to 150 seats. Apart from this, Sharad Pawar’s NCP SP may get 10-12 seats.

The dates for BMC elections have been announced by the State Election Commission on Monday (15 December). Elections for 29 municipal corporations of Maharashtra will be held on January 15. Whose results will come on 16th January. Mahayuti has already started its preparations for this election. But the matter of Mahavikas Aghadi has not been settled yet. This time Congress is keeping distance from the Thackeray brothers. Mahavikas Aghadi seems to be in trouble regarding this.

Due to the increased closeness between the Thackeray brothers in recent times, the leaders of Shiv Sena’s Uddhav faction are now increasing their closeness with MNS only regarding the BMC elections. Somewhere, bypassing Congress, they are forming an alliance with MNS. Congress told that their preparations are complete. Among these 29 municipal corporations, political parties especially have stakes on TMC of Thane, PMC of Pune and the richest municipal corporation of Mumbai, BMC.

Shiv Sena’s Uddhav Thackeray faction showed its attitude to Congress

The picture of Mahavikas Aghadi is now visible only in name. Uddhav Thackeray’s army has now started showing its attitude towards the ally Congress. Sanjay Raut was continuously saying that we will talk to the high command regarding BMC elections. Now he says that the Delhi Congress high command has given the decision to the local Congress, the decision is theirs.

Don’t know about Mahavikas Aghadi but all the parties have started their respective meetings and preparations. Rounds of meetings are going on in Mumbai Congress. There are intense discussions that Congress is planning to contest the BMC elections alone.

In such a situation, on going with AIMIM and the indifference of Uddhav’s army, Maharashtra Congress MLA Vijay Wadettiwar, while talking to ABP News, said that there will be no BMC elections in Mumbai but in the remaining municipal elections, Shiv Sena will contest the elections along with UBT and MNS. That means we are not together in BMC elections but are together in other elections.

Sharad Pawar’s party cleared the picture

In such a situation, Sharad Pawar’s NCP, which is isolated, has avoided any controversy and has said that in this municipal election, the Nationalist Congress Party will contest elections everywhere in alliance with Mahavikas Aghadi.

In such a situation, one thing is clear from the statement of Mahavikas Aghadi that alliances are being used everywhere only after seeing their own benefit. The slogan of Mahavikas Aghadi is ‘We are together’ where there is loss and where there is need to be alone and dependent on others.

Elections have been announced for BMC, the country’s largest municipal corporation. Voting will be done on January 15 and counting of votes will take place on January 16. The big question is who will take over this municipal corporation dominated by Thackeray’s Shiv Sena this time? This time, along with the political scenario, the map has also changed in BMC.

There are 236 seats here, in 2017 there were 227 seats. BMC elections were to be held in the year 2022, but they were delayed due to issues related to ward delimitation and reservation. In September 2025, the Supreme Court had said that local body elections should be completed by January 31, 2026.

In the 2017 elections, Uddhav Thackeray’s Shiv Sena emerged as the largest party and captured the post of Mayor in alliance with BJP. Shiv Sena had got maximum 84 seats. BJP had got 82 seats. Shiv Sena was united then under the leadership of Uddhav Thackeray. Whereas Congress won 31 seats, NCP 9, MNS 7 and AIMIM won two seats.

This time, till the announcement of elections, there has been no announcement on the alliance formula in both the party and opposition camps. An alliance is expected with a friendly fight in the elections. BJP, Shiv Sena Shinde faction and Ajit Pawar’s NCP are definitely talking about fighting together, but there is every possibility of a friendly fight.

Angry Eknath Shinde!

In fact, during the Panchayat elections, Deputy Chief Minister and Shiv Sena chief Eknath Shinde appeared quite angry with the BJP’s stance. The party said that BJP has defeated their leaders.

Such was his displeasure that he did not even attend the cabinet meeting. However, after the elections, BJP did damage control. There was a long meeting between Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Shinde and after this BJP announced that we will fight the local elections together. At the same time, BJP is angry with Ajit Pawar’s NCP. NCP has given command of BMC elections to Nawab Malik, BJP is opposing it. In such a situation, the time to come will tell what will be the equation of Mahayuti in the elections.

NCP will take decision today

NCP has called a meeting on Tuesday (16 December) at 4 pm. Sources said that whether to contest the elections as a grand alliance or to consider any other option, this will be discussed in today’s meeting.

Small workers have a lot of expectations from local elections, in such a situation all the parties want to bring maximum seats to their side. The grand alliance of all three parties is currently in the Maharashtra government. At the same time, small parties like RPI are also hoping to get seats in Mahayuti.

BJP is going to start the first round of talks with constituent parties for BMC elections from today. BJP will hold talks with Shiv Sena and RPI Athawale today.

condition of opposition alliance

There is confusion about the stand of Congress due to Shiv Sena (Uddhav faction) and Raj Thackeray joining MNS in the opposition. Uddhav Thackeray and Raj Thackeray have come together after 20 years. Both the brothers are faced with the challenge of survival. Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut has reached MNS President Raj Thackeray’s house today to discuss seat sharing.

The unity of the Thackeray brothers put the Congress in a dilemma. Different voices are being raised within the party. Some believe that one should fight separately from Thackeray. At the same time, some party leaders also believe that fighting with Shiv Sena (UBT) and MNS will be beneficial.

Regarding the conversation, Sanjay Raut said, “There may be a formal announcement from the Thackeray brothers this week.” As of now I don’t think Congress is with us. I had spoken to the Congress High Command, who had left the decision to the local unit. Let us tell you that Congress has called a meeting today regarding BMC elections.

The stand of Sharad Pawar’s NCP (SP) is awaited. The closeness between uncle and nephew has increased in recent times amidst confusion regarding Ajit Pawar in Mahayuti and Sharad Pawar in MVA. Recently, Prafulla Patel of Ajit Pawar group attended Sharad Pawar’s birthday party. The photo of the meeting sparked a new discussion in political circles.

In the last assembly and Lok Sabha elections, Shiv Sena (UBT), Congress and NCP (SP) had contested together. This Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) alliance defeated Mahayuti in the Lok Sabha elections, however, it suffered a crushing defeat in the Assembly elections.

The last election was held on 21 February 2017 and the result was announced on 23 February. Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) is considered to be the largest municipal corporation in Asia. In the last budget, an expenditure of about Rs 75,000 crore was estimated for the current financial year. In such a situation, the eyes of all parties are fixed on BMC.

The dates of municipal elections in Maharashtra have been announced. State Election Commissioner Dinesh Waghmare said that the code of conduct is being implemented in 29 municipal corporations from today (December 15). There is a plan to hold local body elections before January 31. Elections for all 29 municipalities including BMC will be held on January 15. The results will come on January 16. There will be 10 thousand 111 polling stations. Will use the list of July 1, 2025.

Candidates can file nomination for BMC elections from 23rd December to 30th December. Withdrawal of candidature can be taken till 2 January 2026. Election symbols can be distributed till January 3, 2026.

Activities of political parties intensify regarding BMC elections

The tenure of 27 municipal corporations in Maharashtra has ended. These elections are pending since 2022. These elections were to be held in the year 2022 itself but there was a lot of delay in it due to the issues of ward delimitation and reservation. The Supreme Court had issued instructions to complete the local body elections by January 31, 2026. After the announcement of elections, the political activities of all the political parties have intensified. Everyone has become more active in making their own strategies.

The country’s richest municipal corporation

BMC elections have been considered very important in the politics of the state. This affects the equations of state as well as national politics. BMC is the richest municipal corporation in the country. Its annual budget is quite big. In such a situation, all the political parties of the state have come together to exert their full strength to gain control over it. 227 corporators are elected in BMC.

Who will get how many seats in the 2017 elections?

In the 2017 BMC elections in Maharashtra, BJP had won 82 seats. Whereas 84 councilors of undivided Shiv Sena had won. Whereas Congress won 31 seats and NCP won 9 seats. The post of Mayor had gone to the undivided Shiv Sena.

However, now the entire political equation of the state has changed. Along with Shiv Sena, NCP is also divided into two groups. There are two alliances in the state, Mahayuti and Mahavikas Aghadi. Currently, there is a Mahayuti government in the state under the leadership of Devendra Fadnavis. In such a situation, now everyone’s eyes are especially on BMC elections.

Before the civic elections in Maharashtra, especially BMC elections, Congress has announced that the party will contest the elections alone on its own. That is, Congress wants to separate from the opposition alliance Mahavikas Aghadi (MVA) and enter the electoral fray. The reason for this is the coming together of the Thackeray brothers and especially the displeasure with Raj Thackeray. However, Congress has no rift with Sharad Pawar. In such a situation, will Sharad Pawar also have to bear the loss of resentment from Thackeray brothers?

Amidst all these questions, on the morning of Wednesday, November 19, a picture emerged which has intensified the stir in the political circles of Maharashtra. In fact, regarding the BMC elections, a delegation of Mumbai Congress reached NCP chief Sharad Pawar’s residence Silver Oak to meet him.

In this Congress delegation led by Varsha Gaikwad, Amin Patel, Aslam Shaikh and Jyoti Gaikwad reached Sharad Pawar’s residence. It is believed that this meeting has taken place to discuss the strategies of the alliance before the upcoming local body elections.

Congress does not want an alliance between Sharad Pawar and Thackeray brothers?

It is being speculated that there could be many angles to this meeting between senior Congress leaders and Sharad Pawar. First of all, Congress is trying to ensure that Sharad Pawar’s NCP stays in alliance with them on some seats and does not make alliance with Uddhav-Raj Thackeray.

Congress does not want that without it the MVA alliance will now become an alliance of Uddhav-Raj and Sharad Pawar. In such a situation, Congress will try to ensure that Sharad Pawar also breaks the alliance with Uddhav Thackeray.

Will Congress compromise on the decision to fight alone?

Now the question arises that when Congress has already announced on several occasions that it has to field candidates on all the seats in the civic elections on its own, then why does it now want to meet Sharad Pawar and form an alliance? Will Congress withdraw its decision to fight alone?

Will Sharad Pawar also leave Uddhav Thackeray?

Due to the meeting of Congress leaders and Sharad Pawar, it is also being speculated that NCP-SP can now decide on the strategy for the civic elections with Congress. It is certain that Congress will not contest the elections with Uddhav Thackeray. In such a situation, will Sharad Pawar also leave the Thackeray brothers?

Answers to all these questions can be found only after the official statement of senior party leaders, but till now neither Uddhav Thackeray-Raj Thackeray, nor Sharad Pawar nor any Congress leader has made any statement regarding the status of MVA. In such a situation, the situation of the opposition alliance party is in confusion.

Preparations for BMC elections have intensified in Mumbai, all the parties are busy in strategy meetings and meanwhile, Congress has increased the political stir by taking a big decision. Congress has made it clear that it is going to fight the BMC elections alone and not with Mahavikas Aghadi (MVA). After this announcement, different reactions came out from the partner parties, due to which the internal strife of the alliance has come to the fore.

According to the court order, BMC elections will have to be held by the end of January 2026. Amidst this countdown, in the Mumbai meeting of Congress on Saturday (15 November), party in-charge Ramesh Chennathila announced that Congress will contest the BMC elections alone. He said that the party will contest the elections on its own and will not join any alliance.

This is not happening for the first time – Supriya Sule

NCP (SP) MP Supriya Sule gave a mild reaction to this announcement of Congress. He said that there is nothing new in this, many times in the past also parties have been changing their decisions just before the elections. Sule said that talks have not taken place with Congress yet, when the talks take place then this will definitely be discussed.

Congress should not make its situation like Bihar – Uddhav group

On the other hand, Uddhav Thackeray group spokesperson Anand Dubey launched a scathing attack on Congress. He said that if Congress contests elections alone, its condition will become like that of Bihar. Dubey also said that now distance has been maintained from Congress in INDIA alliance and only he is supporting Congress. If Congress puts the same issue before him then it will come down to zero.

It doesn’t matter whether someone comes or goes – Fadnavis

On the ongoing tension between Congress and MVA, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said that the opposition has tried fighting together and can also try fighting separately, but to no avail. Modi is in the minds of the public and the BJP-alliance is doing public service 24 hours. He said that it does not matter to him whether someone stays with him or not.

Congress hit back

Congress spokesperson Atul Londhe hit back at both Fadnavis and the Uddhav group. Londhe said that the government is misusing the institutions and they should not show arrogance. He challenged that if you have courage then elections should be conducted through ballot paper.

Taking a dig at the Uddhav faction, he said that Congress will go only with those people whose ideology follows the path of Ambedkar, Shahu and Phule. After Congress’ reply, BJP leader Ashish Shelar also came into the field. He said that one needs strength to fight alone and Congress does not have that strength. Congress is neither infamous nor does it have any workers left.

The political temperature in Maharashtra has become high regarding the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation elections (BMC Election) and all the political parties have started preparations to make their place. There has also been news of the Thackeray brothers coming together before the BMC elections. It is believed that Raj Thackeray and Uddhav Thackeray are going to contest the elections together with each other this time. However, Mahavikas Aghadi (MVA) ally Congress had clearly opposed it.

In such a situation, the question now arises whether Raj Thackeray will be allowed to contest elections by joining Mahavikas Aghadi? However, now it has been clearly stated by the Congress that the Congress will contest the Municipal Corporation elections on its own. This means that the opposition coalition party MVA will break.

Vijay Wadettiwar’s claim – Congress will contest elections alone

This has been announced by senior Congress leader Vijay Wadettiwar. Vijay Wadettiwar said that the world’s largest municipal corporation is Mumbai. Our Mumbai Municipal Corporation leaders have decided that we will fight independently. Therefore, the question does not arise as to how many seats have to be left for whom. Wadettiwar has been clearly told that this decision has been taken at the local level after discussion with the Congress high command.

Elections for local self-government bodies, municipalities and panchayats are going to be held in Maharashtra in the coming few months. Before this, now a big news has come out. According to information received from sources, the formula of Mahayuti has been decided for the municipal elections. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has given important information in this regard. Elections for local bodies will be held in the state soon. But considering the current political situation, these elections have become a question of prestige. Therefore, there is curiosity among all parties regarding these elections.

The situation was not clear till now

Till now it was not clear whether these elections will be fought in the form of grand alliance of BJP, Shiv Sena, nationalist group and Mahavikas Aghadi ‘Shiv Sena Thackeray group, Congress, Nationalist Sharad Pawar group’ or the parties will contest on their own.

Senior leaders of Mahayuti had claimed that the elections would be fought only as an alliance, but at many places local officials were giving slogans of contesting the elections on their own. In many municipal corporations, workers of BJP, Shiv Sena and Nationalist had expressed their desire to contest elections on their own.

Mahayuti formula decided for elections

In such a situation, the question was arising whether the three parties would fight together or separately? Meanwhile, now big news has come. According to sources, the Mahayuti formula for the municipal elections has been decided. In Mumbai, all three parties BJP, Shiv Sena and nationalist will contest elections together. Whereas in Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad, BJP will contest elections on its own.

No final decision has been taken yet regarding Thane Municipal Corporation elections. Fadnavis said that possibilities of fighting the elections unitedly in Thane are being explored. He also said that ‘wherever the opponents can benefit, we will fight together as a Mahayuti.’

Suspense continues in Mahavikas Aghadi

Meanwhile, no clear decision has been taken by Mahavikas Aghadi regarding local body elections. On the other hand, the discussion of a possible alliance between Raj Thackeray’s MNS and Shiv Sena Thackeray faction is also intensifying. In such a situation, it will be interesting to see whether Raj Thackeray will go with Mahavikas Aghadi in the upcoming local elections or not.

On the occasion of Sri Krishna Janmashtami in Mumbai, Dahi Handi ceremony was organized at Tembhi Naka in Thane. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde attended the Dahi Handi ceremony. During this, CM Fadnavis said that the hand of the opposition’s sin has been broken.

Earlier, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis greeted everyone on Shri Krishna Janmashtami and Dahi Handi festival. He said that this festival is being celebrated with great enthusiasm and pomp in Mumbai. No matter how much the rain is, but the enthusiasm and enthusiasm of our Govinda can never be reduced.

VIDEO | Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis (@Dev_fadnavis) Says, “it is a matter of great happiness that ten ‘handis’ was put up, earlier there was Nine ‘Handis’, It’s A Record, A Team from Spain also came Sholay … it is a… pic.twitter.com/egytxpousr

– Press Trust of India (@Pti_News) August 16, 2025

‘Soldiers broke the hand of Pakistan’s sin’

Addressing the media, CM Fadnavis said, “The Dahi Handi festival dedicated to the soldiers of Operation Sindoor has been organized. In ‘Operation Sindoor’, our soldiers led by Prime Minister Modi broke the hand of Pakistan’s sin and now those soldiers are being honored here.”

‘Opposition’s sin of sin is broken’

The Chief Minister further said, “Changes in the metropolitan municipality will definitely happen in the coming time. The hand of the sin of the opposition is now broken and now such a hand is not going to happen again. The work of ‘Makhan’ i.e. development and benefit will be done to every section of the society.”

On Shri Krishna Janmashtami, Deputy CM Eknath Shinde said that the holy festival of Janmashtami is being celebrated in the whole country, this is a very amazing opportunity for the countrymen.

Earlier, many politicians including Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Defense Minister Rajnath Singh and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath greeted the countrymen on Shri Krishna Janmashtami.

In Maharashtra, there is a dispute about Shiv Sena MLA Sanjay Gaikwad, Minister Sanjay Shirsat and Bharat Gogawale in Maharashtra. On Wednesday (July 16), MLAs of opposition parties demonstrated outside the assembly wearing vest and gamcha. Opposition legislators wore vest and swabs over the dress. During this time these leaders raised slogans of Gunda Raj.

Uddhav Thackeray faction’s Shiv Sena (UBT) MLA and Leader of Opposition Ambadas Danve said that Sanjay Gaikwad attacked the canteen of the assembly. The attack shows that the government is also supporting such elements.

Sanjay Gaikwad’s video viral

After the video of Sanjay Gaikwad went viral, both the government and the opposition criticized him. On July 8, Gaikwad slapped an employee of the ‘Akashvani MLA’ hostel canteen on serving stale food.

After this, even in cleanliness, the Shiv Sena UBT MLA told the assault right and said that he was beaten up due to poor food. It can be seen in the video that the Gaekwad vest and the towel wrapped in the waist clashes with the contractor.

After the video surfaced, Shiv Sena MLAs are being called tights vest gangs on behalf of opposition leaders.

Sanjay Shirsat surrounded

Along with this, Shinde faction minister Sanjay Shirsat is smoking cigarettes wearing a vest on a bed and a bag full of money is seen in the video. Regarding this, Shirsat says that the video has been tampered with and is shown in the wrong context.

Earlier, a video of Bharat Gogawale was revealed, in which he was sitting in a tantric puja wearing a vest.

The target of opposition parties is the party of Deputy CM Eknath Shinde. The dispute of the three leaders has given the opposition a chance to surround Shinde. In view of this, Deputy Chief Minister and Shiv Sena President Eknath Shinde warned the leaders recently. He said without naming, “Public life demands discipline and we should maintain it.”