Devendra Fadnavis Confident of MVA Defeat, Says Strategy Will Be Decided if Sharad-Ajit Pawar Unite

Mumbai, Maharashtra: Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has expressed confidence in his alliance’s prospects in the upcoming local body elections, claiming that the Mahayuti is prepared to win key municipal corporations across the state. Speaking ahead of the polls, he stated that if the two factions of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), led by Sharad Pawar and Ajit Pawar, decide to come together in the future, strategic decisions will be made at that time.

Fadnavis emphasized that the ongoing alliances in Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad involve only local-level coordination and that no formal merger has taken place between the NCP factions. “The leaders are trying to show unity locally to consolidate their supporters, but ultimately the BJP will secure a majority in Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad,” he said.

Reflecting on the 2019 experience, when the then-undivided Shiv Sena unexpectedly joined hands with the Congress and NCP to form the Maha Vikas Aghadi, Fadnavis said he remains cautious about any potential reunification of the NCP factions. “Given Maharashtra’s political history, we cannot dismiss any possibility. If Sharad Pawar and Ajit Pawar come together in the future, we will evaluate the situation then,” he added.

Fadnavis also dismissed speculation about future alliances with Shiv Sena (UBT). “Any alliance between Uddhav Thackeray and Raj Thackeray will not impact the Mumbai municipal elections. If anything, it will harm Raj Thackeray’s prospects the most,” he stated.

The Chief Minister expressed confidence that Mahayuti is ready to capture 27 out of Maharashtra’s 29 municipal corporations. “We have campaigned rigorously, and our team is fully prepared to secure victories in important civic bodies including Mumbai, Pune, Pimpri-Chinchwad, and Nashik,” he said.