BJP–Shiv Sena Near Seat-Sharing Pact for BMC Polls as Alliance Talks Intensify Across Maharashtra

Mumbai, Dec 2025 : The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Shiv Sena are on the verge of finalising their seat-sharing arrangement for the upcoming Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections, with sources indicating that an understanding has been reached on nearly 200 of the 227 wards in Mumbai. The polls to the country’s richest civic body are scheduled to be held on January 15.

According to sources, a late-night meeting of the ruling Mahayuti alliance—comprising the BJP, the Shiv Sena led by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, and the Ajit Pawar-led Nationalist Congress Party (NCP)—was held at Shinde’s residence in Thane. The discussions focused on alliance coordination and seat-sharing strategies not only for Mumbai but also for other key municipal corporations, including Thane, Kalyan-Dombivli and Navi Mumbai.

Further meetings of alliance partners are expected on Friday to finalise arrangements for the BMC as well as civic polls in Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar, Panvel and Mira-Bhayandar. Leaders from the ruling coalition are said to be keen on presenting a united front to retain control of major urban local bodies across the state.

On the opposition front, political realignments are gaining momentum in Mumbai. The Congress is exploring fresh alliances and is set to initiate talks with the Prakash Ambedkar-led Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi (VBA). This move follows differences with the Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray faction) over its decision to join hands with the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS).

Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut has confirmed that his party will contest the BMC elections in alliance with the MNS and the Sharad Pawar-led NCP. The inclusion of the NCP (SP) comes after Sharad Pawar reportedly turned down a seat-sharing proposal from the Ajit Pawar faction, which had offered his party only 35 seats.

Meanwhile, MNS chief Raj Thackeray is expected to chair a crucial meeting of party leaders at his Shivtirth residence to finalise the party’s campaign strategy, key poll issues and candidate selection for the BMC elections.

Across Maharashtra, similar negotiations are underway for various municipal corporations and councils, with parallel meetings being held by different political parties as they seek to firm up alliances and strategies ahead of the crucial local body polls.
Team Maverick.