Mumbai:
Tensions within the opposition bloc in Maharashtra continue to escalate as the debate over a possible alliance with the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) grows sharper. Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut on Wednesday signalled frustration with the Congress, insisting that talks between Uddhav Thackeray and Raj Thackeray will proceed regardless of whether approval comes from the Congress high command in Delhi.
Raut wrote on X that what the Congress feels about the alliance “does not matter” if the Shiv Sena (UBT) and the MNS have already decided to work together. According to him, the coming together of the two Thackeray-led parties reflects the sentiments of ground workers and supporters, and therefore does not require permission from any central leadership.
Sharad Pawar’s NCP has also indicated that a united opposition front would be essential to challenge the ruling alliance in Maharashtra. Senior NCP leaders, including Jitendra Awhad, have stated that all “natural allies” should remain together, adding that Left parties, Ambedkarite groups and worker unions have urged opposition unity ahead of the polls.
The Congress, however, remains guarded. The party leadership in Maharashtra has been cautious about the prospect of an electoral tie-up with the MNS, given historical ideological differences and voter-base sensitivities in Mumbai. Earlier, Congress leadership announced its intention to contest the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections independently, creating uncertainty around a joint opposition strategy.
The upcoming BMC polls carry enormous political significance. Apart from being India’s richest civic governing body, the BMC election is seen as a symbolic test of strength ahead of the 2025 Maharashtra Assembly elections. The UBT Sena and the MNS believe that a combined Marathi platform could reclaim lost ground, especially in Mumbai and Thane — regions where both once commanded influence.
With the election schedule approaching, intense negotiations are expected over the coming weeks. Whether Congress eventually agrees to return to the negotiation table may determine whether Maharashtra’s opposition faces the polls united or fragmented.
