Speculation rises over Uddhav-Raj alliance; civic poll seat-sharing major hurdle?

With speculations on rise over a potential alliance between Uddhav Thackeray's Shiv Sena (UBT) and Raj Thackeray's Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) ahead of the upcoming municipal elections, the Uddhav Thackeray faction faces a significant challenge: what kind of proposal should be offered to MNS, and for which seats? The issue is complicated by the comparable influence both parties wield in certain areas, creating a deadlock over the terms of a possible alliance.advertisementIn the 2017 municipal elections, Shiv Sena (UBT) won 84 seats, but 42 have since deserted the party. In contrast, MNS currently has no corporators, significantly weakening its position. Sources indicate that Uddhav Thackeray's faction believes its stronger standing in assembly constituencies like Dadar, Worli, Wadala, Sewri, Chembur and Bhandur justifies an alliance on their terms.However, some leaders within the faction suspect that Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) will work to prevent this alliance, wary of its potential to disrupt their dominance in Maharashtra's local politics.
Reflecting on past efforts, MNS leader Bala Nandgaonkar shared, 'Back then, I tried to bring Raj Thackeray and Uddhav Thackeray together. In politics, good or bad things happen when certain events unfold, but I have no idea what will happen next, so it's not appropriate to comment. Time always comes, and no time is ever bad. As the Mahabharata says, 'Time is the greatest force.' There's a lot in that statement.'advertisementShiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut dismissed suggestions of a one-sided approach, stating, 'Who told you there's no positive response? Is this one-sided love, like a Mughal-e-Azam film or Anarkali? Everyone treads carefully in politics. These are political developments, and the future of Mumbai and Maharashtra, along with the pride of Marathi identity, is at stake. They will do what's needed.'The speculation about a Raj-Uddhav alliance stems from their shared history in the undivided Shiv Sena, founded by Bal Thackeray. However, the need to counter the BJP's growing influence have fueled alliance talks. Despite the positive rhetoric from both sides, seat-sharing and local dynamics remain hurdles, and the BJP's potential interference adds further complexity.Must Watch

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3 hours ago

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