Maharashtra Municipal elections turn into a political maze: Who’s with whom and who’s gone solo across
In many places, alliances that exist at the state level have broken down at the municipal level, replaced by “friendly fights”, partial seat-sharing arrangements or outright three- and four-cornered contests.
As Maharashtra heads towards crucial municipal corporation elections, the state’s political landscape has turned into a complex web of shifting alliances, tactical tie-ups and solo contests. Traditional coalitions have fractured, unlikely partnerships have emerged, and several parties have opted to go it alone, underscoring the highly localised and strategic nature of civic polls.
From megacities like Mumbai, Pune and Nagpur to regional centres such as Latur, Jalgaon and Malegaon, electoral equations vary sharply from city to city. In many places, alliances that exist at the state level have broken down at the municipal level, replaced by “friendly fights”, partial seat-sharing arrangements or outright three- and four-cornered contests.
Here is a city-wise snapshot of who is contesting with whom—and who is going solo—across Maharashtra.
Mumbai
BJP – Shinde Sena – RPI (Athawale) alliance
Uddhav Sena – MNS – NCP (Sharad Pawar) alliance
NCP (Ajit Pawar) – Independent
Thane
BJP – Shinde Sena alliance
Uddhav Sena – MNS – NCP (Sharad Pawar) alliance
NCP (Ajit Pawar) – Independent
Congress, Vanchit – Independent
Navi Mumbai
BJP – Independent
Shinde Sena – Independent
MNS – Uddhav Sena alliance
NCP (Sharad Pawar) – Independent
NCP (Ajit Pawar) – Independent
Kalyan–Dombivli
BJP – Shinde Sena – RPI alliance
Uddhav Sena – MNS alliance
NCP (Ajit Pawar) – Independent
Mira–Bhayandar
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Uddhav Sena – MNS alliance
BJP – Shinde Sena – NCP alliance
Vasai–Virar
BJP – Shinde Sena alliance
Bahujan Vikas Aghadi – MNS alliance
NCP (Ajit Pawar), Congress – Independent
Ulhasnagar
Shinde Sena – Omi Kalani – Sai Party alliance
Congress – Uddhav Sena – MNS alliance
Bhiwandi
BJP – Shinde Sena alliance
Uddhav Sena – MNS alliance
NCP (Ajit Pawar), NCP (Sharad Pawar), Samajwadi Party – Independent
Zeeshan Shaikh is the Associate Editor who heads The Indian Express' Mumbai reporting team. He is recognized for his highly specialized Expertise in analyzing the complex dynamics of Maharashtra politics and critical minority issues, providing in-depth, nuanced, and Trustworthy reports.
Expertise
Senior Editorial Role: As an Associate Editor leading the Mumbai reporting team, Zeeshan Shaikh holds a position of significant Authority and journalistic responsibility at a leading national newspaper.
Core Specialization: His reporting focuses intensely on two interconnected, high-impact areas:
Maharashtra Politics & Urban Power Structures: Provides deep-dive analyses into political strategies, municipal elections (e.g., BMC polls), the history of alliances (e.g., Shiv Sena's shifting partners), and the changing demographics that influence civic power in Mumbai.
Minority Issues and Socio-Political Trends: Excels in coverage of the Muslim community's representation in power, demographic shifts, socio-economic challenges, and the historical context of sensitive political and cultural issues (e.g., the 'Vande Mataram' debate's roots in the BMC).
Investigative Depth: His articles frequently delve into the historical roots and contemporary consequences of major events, ranging from the rise of extremist groups in specific villages (e.g., Borivali-Padgha) to the long-term collapse of established political parties (e.g., Congress in Mumbai).
Trustworthiness & Credibility
Data-Driven Analysis: Zeeshan's work often incorporates empirical data, such as National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) statistics on arrests and convictions of minorities, or data on asset growth of politicians, grounding his reports in factual evidence.
Focus on Hinterland Issues: While based in Mumbai, he maintains a wide lens, covering issues affecting the state's hinterlands, including water crises, infrastructure delays, and the plight of marginalized communities (e.g., manual scavengers).
Institutional Affiliation: His senior position at The Indian Express—a publication known for its tradition of rigorous political and investigative journalism—underscores the high level of editorial vetting and Trustworthiness of his reports.
He tweets @zeeshansahafi ... Read More
