In Maharashtra local body polls, friends turn foe as parties go beyond ‘coalition dharma’

In Kolhapur, Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) minister Hasan Mushrif has stitched an alliance with rival Nationalist Congress Party (SP) at Chandgad and Kagal, to take on the ruling coalition allies Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Eknath Shinde led Shiv Sena, respectively.

In Satara district, NCP MLC Ramraje Naik-Nimbalkar’s son Aniketraj Nimbalkar is contesting from Shiv Sena against BJP’s Samshersinh Naik-Nimbalkar, brother of ex-MP Ranjeetsinh.

In Sindhudurg’s Kankavali municipal council, Krantikari Vichar Party (KVP) will take on BJP led by minister Nitesh Rane.

The KVP has made arch-rivals Uddhav Thackeray-led Sena UBT and Shinde Sena join hands. In neighbouring Ratnagiri district’s Chiplun municipal council, NCP MLA Shekhar Nikam has decided to field party candidates against ally Sena.

In Raigad district, the NCP led by Lok Sabha MP and party’s state unit chief Sunil Tatkare and the BJP have joined hands to take on Shinde-led Sena.

In Palghar district, the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) is joined by Shinde Sena to take on the BJP.

In Thane district’s Ambernath municipal council, Sena and BJP will battle it out for the post council chief’s post. Within Opposition, Congress is contesting independently while rest of the parties, Sena UBT, MNS and NCP(SP), have fielded a separate candidate.

In Badlapur, the BJP and NCP have formed an alliance to take on Shinde Sena.

Solapur district has been in the news for local body polls where newly formed Angar municipal panchayat was won by the BJP uncontested.

Last month, local heavyweight, former MLA and NCP leader Rajan Patil, had joined the BJP. The nomination from the NCP candidate for the panchayat chief post was termed invalid, resulting in Patil’s daughter-in-law winning the election without contest.

Dharashiv district in Marathwada is a prime example where all six parties have decided to opt separate ways.

In Umarga, candidates of all six parties have filed independent nominations.

In Bhoom and Paranda, all parties have joined hands through a common panel against Shinde-led Sena.

In Kalamb, both NCPs are fighting the election together against the rest.

In Nanded district, the Congress has decided to join hands with Prakash Ambedkar led Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi (VBA). The alliance is also formed in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar and Buldhana.

In Vidarbha, local equations are turning more important than alliance politics.

The BJP has decided to field candidates for all municipal council chief posts in Nagpur district. Shinde Sena and the NCP have fielded candidates on at least 15 council posts, which will set the pitch for battle within the Mahayuti.

Congress too is a major player in Vidarbha but is affected by factionalism.

In Yavatmal’s Pusad, five parties have fielded candidates for the council chief post and similar trend is seen in other councils of the district as well as in the neighbouring Akola district.

In Nashik district, the BJP and NCP have joined hands to take on Shinde Sena in Yeola, Bhagur and Sinnar. But in Nandgaon, Sena and BJP are contesting against the NCP, while in Trimbakeshwar and Chandwad, all parties are contesting against each other.