MNS chief Raj Thackeray with Shiv Sena chief and deputy chief minister Eknath Shinde. (File Photo)
THANE: In a significant post-poll development in the Kalyan–Dombivli Municipal Corporation, the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) has extended support to the Shiv Sena despite the two being rival political factions. Former MNS MLA Pramod (Raju) Patil announced the decision on behalf of the party’s five corporators.Earlier in the day, all 53 Shiv Sena corporators visited the Konkan Divisional Commissioner’s office in Navi Mumbai to formally register their group. At the same venue, the five MNS corporators completed their own procedural formalities and officially declared support for the Shiv Sena, marking a notable alignment between traditionally competing parties for the civic body’s power structure.
In the recently concluded 122-member KDMC elections, Shiv Sena emerged as the single largest party with 53 councillors, followed closely by BJP with 50 seats. Shiv Sena (UBT) secured 11 seats, Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) five, Congress seats, and NCP (SP) one.Also read | ‘Anyone but BJP, Shiv Sena’: AIMIM claims Shinde’s party sought post-civic poll union; says open to ‘respectful offers’ from othersConfirming the development, Kalyan Lok Sabha MP Shrikant Shinde said that the MNS had extended support keeping the city’s development in mind. Responding to questions on whether the Shiv Sena would form the KDMC government without the BJP’s support, Shinde clarified that the Shiv Sena and the BJP had contested the civic elections together as part of the Mahayuti alliance. He asserted that the mayor in KDMC would be from the Mahayuti, adding that a final decision on the mayoral post would be taken jointly by deputy chief minister Eknath Shinde and BJP state president Ravindra Chavan later today. According to sources, in the 122-member Kalyan-Dombivli Municipal Corporation, a minimum of 62 seats is required to form the ruling body. With 53 Shiv Sena corporators and the support of five MNS corporators, the tally has now reached 58. Sources further indicate that a few corporators from the Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray (UBT) faction—out of their total strength of 11—are also reportedly in touch with the Shinde-led Shiv Sena.Amid the BJP’s demand for a two-and-a-half-year term for the mayor’s post, political observers believe the Shiv Sena may be exploring the option of forming the civic government on its own or strengthening its bargaining position within the alliance. The final shape of power in the KDMC is expected to become clearer in the coming days.
