Despite repeated assurances of unity from Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, cracks within the Mahayuti alliance are becoming increasingly visible as seat-sharing talks between the BJP and the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena remain unresolved ahead of the January municipal corporation elections.
According to political sources, negotiations between the two allies have hit a roadblock, particularly in key civic bodies such as the Thane Municipal Corporation and the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC). While both parties publicly maintain that the alliance is intact, the ground reality suggests growing friction and competitive positioning.
Thane has emerged as the biggest flashpoint. The 131-seat civic body has long been seen as a traditional stronghold of the Shiv Sena, and the Shinde camp is reportedly unwilling to concede more than a limited number of seats to its ally. The BJP, on the other hand, is pressing for a larger share, citing its expanding organisational strength and recent electoral performance in the region. With no agreement in sight, both parties have already begun parallel campaigns in the city, signalling a shift from coordination to competition.
The tension spilled into the public domain recently after BJP banners featuring Prime Minister Narendra Modi appeared in Thane without any Shiv Sena leaders, triggering discontent within the Shinde camp. The move has been seen as a message of political assertion rather than alliance harmony.
A similar impasse exists in Mumbai. While the two sides have broadly agreed on most seats in the 227-member BMC, a final call on a smaller but crucial set of wards remains pending. Multiple rounds of talks have failed to close the gap so far, raising questions about whether the alliance can present a united front in India’s richest civic body.
Even as differences persist, Fadnavis has continued to project confidence, urging BJP leaders to avoid public criticism of the Shinde-led Shiv Sena and reiterating that the Mahayuti will fight the civic elections together. He has framed the upcoming polls as a battle for clean and transparent urban governance, while taking sharp digs at rival opposition formations.
