Shiv Sena and MNS Join Hands for Civic Polls, End Years of Political Rivalry

Mumbai : In a significant political realignment ahead of the upcoming municipal corporation elections in Maharashtra, the Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray faction) and the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) on Tuesday announced an electoral alliance, bringing together the two Thackeray-led parties after years of political estrangement.

The alliance was formally announced by senior leaders of both parties, who said the decision was driven by the need to present a united front in civic bodies, including the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), Asia’s richest municipal body. Seat-sharing arrangements for the elections have been finalised, and the parties will jointly contest the polls scheduled for January 15, 2026.

The coming together of the Shiv Sena (UBT) and the MNS is being seen as an attempt to consolidate the regional Marathi vote amid an increasingly competitive political landscape in urban Maharashtra. The two parties, founded by cousins Uddhav Thackeray and Raj Thackeray, have followed separate political paths for nearly two decades, often contesting elections against each other.

Leaders from both sides said the alliance would focus on local governance issues, urban infrastructure, and civic administration, while also seeking to counter rival political formations in municipal corporations across the State.

Political observers note that the pact could significantly alter electoral equations in Mumbai and other urban centres, particularly in closely contested wards. Further details on campaign strategy and coordination mechanisms are expected to be announced in the coming days.