Buoyed by the Kalyan outcome, Shiv Sena has now turned its attention to Ulhasnagar Municipal Corporation, where a similar realignment is unfolding.
The Shinde faction has formed a 40-member group to claim power in the 78-member civic body, the exact number required to form the ruling administration, as per a report by The Times of India (TOI).
The group comprises 36 Shiv Sena corporators, two from Prakash Ambedkar-led Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi (VBA), and two from a local alliance. Although the BJP emerged as the largest single party with 37 seats, it fell three short of a majority, opening the door for Shinde’s manoeuvre, as per TOI.
Shiv Sena corporator Arun Aashan has been named leader of the newly formed group. While discussions were held with the lone Congress corporator, they did not formally join the bloc during registration. However, Congress has indicated it may support the Shinde-led Sena if required to form the civic body, the report said.
Shinde Sena and MNS in Kalyan-Dombivli
In a tactical move in Kalyan-Dombivli, Raj Thackeray’s Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) extended support to the Shinde faction, enabling it to stake a claim over the mayor’s post despite contesting the civic polls alongside the BJP.
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KDMC has 122 seats, with a simple majority requiring 62. Shinde’s Shiv Sena emerged as the single largest party with 53 corporators, followed closely by the BJP with 50 seats.
The support of five MNS corporators, along with backing from four corporators aligned with the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT), helped Shinde’s group cross the majority mark, effectively pushing the BJP into opposition, as per News18 Hindi.
Raj Thackeray’s backing of Shinde, despite his broader political alignment with Uddhav Thackeray at the state level, underscored the primacy of numbers over sentiment in civic politics, as per News18.
Strains within the ruling Mahayuti alliance
Political observers note that these developments reflect growing friction within Maharashtra’s ruling Mahayuti.
By asserting control over strategic municipal corporations such as KDMC and Ulhasnagar, Shinde is consolidating influence in the Thane–Kalyan belt, even at the cost of alliance harmony with the BJP, as per News18.
However, Maharashtra BJP president Ravindra Chavan clarified that only the ruling Mahayuti alliance will form a government in the three municipal corporations — Kalyan-Dombivli, Thane and Ulhasnagar.
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“The BJP–Shiv Sena alliance has received a clear public mandate in all three civic bodies. Accordingly, the mayoral posts will be held by Mahayuti candidates,” Chavan said.
