Political Realignment in Maharashtra: Shinde-led Shiv Sena Joins Hands with Raj Thackeray’s MNS in Kalyan-Dombivli

Mumbai:
In yet another surprising political development in Maharashtra, the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena has forged an alliance with Raj Thackeray’s Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) ahead of the mayoral election in the Kalyan-Dombivli Municipal Corporation (KDMC). The unexpected tie-up has reshaped local political equations and delivered a major setback to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), its ally in the ruling Mahayuti coalition at the state level.

The development comes at a time when intense negotiations are already underway within the Mahayuti over the Mumbai civic body mayoral post. While the BJP and Shiv Sena (Shinde faction) remain allies in the state government, both parties have adopted competitive postures in Kalyan-Dombivli, a key municipal corporation in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR).

Numbers Game in Kalyan-Dombivli

The 122-member KDMC saw a strong performance by both major allies in the recent civic elections. The BJP emerged with 50 seats, while the Shinde-led Shiv Sena secured 53 seats, making it the single largest party. Raj Thackeray’s MNS won five seats, and the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT) managed 11 seats. A simple majority requires 62 councillors.

With the Shiv Sena (Shinde faction) and MNS joining hands, their combined strength has risen to 58 seats, leaving them just short of a majority. Shiv Sena MP Shrikant Shinde, son of Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and the Member of Parliament from the Kalyan parliamentary constituency, formally confirmed the alliance after a high-level meeting at Konkan Bhavan on Wednesday.

Eyes on UBT Support

Shrikant Shinde also indicated that four councillors from the Shiv Sena (UBT) may extend support to the new alliance. If this materialises, the Shinde Sena–MNS combine will comfortably cross the majority mark, potentially allowing it to form the civic government without BJP’s support.

This move undermines BJP’s proposal of a power-sharing arrangement, which reportedly involved a rotational mayoral tenure of two-and-a-half years. The Shinde-led Shiv Sena, however, is keen on holding the mayor’s post for the full term.

Political Stakes High

Kalyan-Dombivli holds significant political importance. It is considered a stronghold of the Shinde camp, and Shrikant Shinde’s political credibility is closely linked to developments in the region. On the other hand, the outcome also affects the standing of Ravindra Chavan, Maharashtra BJP president and MLA from Dombivli.

In the previous civic elections, the undivided Shiv Sena had dominated KDMC with 52 seats, underlining the symbolic and strategic value of the corporation.

Pattern of Post-Poll Alliances

The developments in Kalyan-Dombivli follow similar post-election political manoeuvres seen recently in Ambernath and Akola municipal councils. In Ambernath, the BJP had briefly allied with the Congress, while in Akola it joined hands with AIMIM—alliances that later drew disciplinary action from party leaderships. These episodes eventually led to further political realignments, including cooperation between the Shinde faction and Ajit Pawar’s NCP group.

A Blow to BJP

The Shinde Sena–MNS alliance has come as a political jolt for the BJP, highlighting growing friction within the Mahayuti at the local level despite its stability in the state government. As negotiations continue and councillor support shifts, the final outcome of the Kalyan-Dombivli mayoral election is expected to have wider implications for Maharashtra’s urban political landscape.