BJP distanced itself from the post of Mayor!…New turn of politics in Kalyan-Dombivli, Eknath Shinde and Raj Thackeray came together forgetting old enmity.

Mumbai : Maharashtra politics often takes unexpected turns, and this has become clear again after the municipal elections. The results of the recent elections in Kalyan-Dombivli Municipal Corporation (KDMC) have further complicated the picture of changing political equations in the state. In this sequence, Eknath Shinde led Shiv Sena left behind its old enmity and formed an alliance with Raj Thackeray’s MNS, the purpose of which is said to be to keep BJP away from the post of Mayor.

BJP’s strong performance, still no majority
Let us tell you that in the 122-member corporation of KDMC, BJP performed well by winning 50 seats, while Shinde faction’s Shiv Sena got 53 seats. MNS won 5 seats and Uddhav Thackeray faction’s Shiv Sena was reduced to 11 seats. To form power, any alliance needs 62 seats, hence it was not possible for any party to form a majority alone.

Rift in Mahayuti: Clash over mayor’s post
However, despite being part of the Grand Alliance, Shiv Sena and BJP have come face to face over the post of Mayor in Kalyan-Dombivli. Both the parties are sticking to their respective agendas. BJP is demanding sharing of the mayor’s post in a 2.5-year rotation, while Shinde faction’s Shiv Sena wants to keep the mayor’s post for the entire tenure.

Pressure increased due to alliance with MNS
After the high-level meeting held at Konkan Bhawan, Shiv Sena MP Shrikant Shinde confirmed the alliance with MNS. With this alliance the total seats reached 58, which is only four seats short of the majority. Srikanth indicated that four councilors from the Uddhav faction can also join this alliance, which can lead to majority and eliminate the need to share power with BJP.

Coalition politics in other municipal bodies of Maharashtra also
The political scenario here is not limited to Kalyan-Dombivali only. Similar politics of alliance was seen in the Ambernath and Akola Municipal Council elections held in December 2025. In Ambernath, BJP formed an alliance with Congress, while in Akola it joined hands with AIMIM. Later, the BJP leadership showed strictness on these alliances, while the Congress also suspended 12 of its councilors in Ambernath.

Suspense regarding the post of Mayor in BMC also
Amidst all these incidents, there is uncertainty regarding the post of Mayor in Mumbai’s Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC). In the 227-member BMC, Mahayuti obtained majority by winning 118 wards, but still no consensus is being reached on the post of Mayor. The situation became more dramatic when Shinde, fearing alleged horse-trading, accommodated 29 newly elected Shiv Sena councilors in a five-star hotel and asked them to stay there till they received the victory certificates.

Revelation of internal differences of Mahayuti
This high-profile municipal election clearly highlights the ongoing internal conflict and differences within the Mahayuti. The conflict over power and influence within the party is deepening, and this situation points towards new equations in Maharashtra politics.