New Delhi: Maharashtra Revenue Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule announced that the ruling Mahayuti alliance will contest the upcoming Zilla Parishad and Municipal Corporation elections as a unified bloc. The decision was taken during a key meeting attended by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, state BJP president Ravindra Chavan and senior leaders of the coalition.
Bawankule said district-level leaders have been instructed to complete the alliance’s organisational framework at the grassroots level without delay. He acknowledged that disagreements may surface in a small number of seats but assured that any such issues would be addressed directly by Fadnavis and Shinde to ensure cohesion. As the BJP’s in-charge for local body polls, he emphasised that the alliance remains committed to a coordinated approach.
For the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation elections, the Mahayuti has agreed on a “4 + 4” mechanism. The arrangement involves a coordination committee made up of four representatives each from the BJP and the Shiv Sena (Shinde faction), along with members from other alliance partners. This committee will analyse booth-level data and finalise seat-sharing, while any unresolved concerns will be escalated to the top leadership for a final call.
Bawankule also affirmed that the decision on Mumbai’s mayoralty will be jointly taken by Fadnavis, Shinde and Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar. He dismissed speculation of internal rifts, stressing that Ajit Pawar and his NCP faction remain firmly embedded in the alliance. According to him, minor disagreements during recent local elections have already been settled.
Speaking on development issues, Bawankule highlighted significant progress in Vidarbha since 2014 under the Fadnavis-led administration. He criticised the Congress for decades of neglect in the region and reiterated that the headquarters of the Forest Department will continue to operate from Nagpur due to the region’s extensive forest cover.
