Maharashtra’s political situation remains uncertain, creating a flutter within the Maha Vikas Aghadi, even though Nationalist Congress Party leader Ajit Pawar has ruled out switching parties. Uddhav Thackeray and Congress leader KC Venugopal met recently, and their meeting was crucial.
Additionally, the duo talked about possible alliances for the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) and other local body elections in the closed-door meeting. This issue has not yet been resolved.
Following his election as Mumbai Congress president, Bhai Jagtap declared his party would run in the BMC elections independently. His efforts in this regard even led him to meet with top Congress leaders in Delhi. In spite of this, there is a sense that Venugopal and Thackeray might form an alliance against the BJP and Eknath Shinde’s Shiv Sena in the upcoming elections.
Venugopal and Uddhav also discuss how local body elections can be carried out in a collaborative manner under the banner of MVA, according to sources close to Mahatoshree (Thackeray’s residence). Uddhav Thackeray and the Congress high command will make the final decision.
Over a year has passed since the BMC elections were due. It has been the BMC commissioner’s task to administer the civic body for the past year. The Shiv Sena won 84 wards in the last BMC election, while the BJP won 82. NCP had won 9 and Congress 32.
Since Uddhav Thackeray’s Shiv Sena has been in power here for over two decades, the BMC is the richest civic body in the country. However, Uddhav’s outfit is also looking for a strong partner to fight the polls after the party split and its original name and symbol went to Eknath Shinde. This means that Maha Vikas Aghadi may gain an advantage in the elections if it contests as a bloc.