In a significant post-election development, the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) has decided to support the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena faction in the Kalyan-Dombivli Municipal Corporation (KDMC), reshaping the power balance in one of Maharashtra’s key civic bodies and highlighting growing cracks in political alliances.
The 122-member KDMC did not deliver a clear majority to any single party in the recent elections. The Shinde faction of the Shiv Sena emerged as the largest party with 53 seats, followed closely by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) with 50 seats. The MNS secured five seats, while the remaining seats went to smaller parties and independents. With MNS support, the Shinde Sena’s strength rises to 58, putting it within striking distance of the 62 seats required to control the civic body.
The move is politically significant as it allows the Shinde faction to stake a claim for leadership in KDMC without relying fully on its ally, the BJP. Chief Minister Eknath Shinde’s camp is reportedly exploring the possibility of forming the civic administration independently, with support from MNS and select independents.
The decision, however, has triggered sharp reactions from the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT). Leaders from the UBT camp have criticised Raj Thackeray’s party, pointing out that the MNS had recently campaigned alongside them and had strongly opposed the Shinde faction during the elections. Senior UBT leaders described the support as a betrayal of voter sentiment and warned of political consequences.
Political observers note that the KDMC development is part of a broader trend in Maharashtra’s civic politics, where post-poll alignments are becoming increasingly fluid. Similar efforts by the Shinde Sena to build majorities without the BJP are reportedly underway in other municipal corporations, including Ulhasnagar.
The development has also raised eyebrows within the BJP, which fought the civic polls in alliance with the Shinde Sena. While BJP leaders have not officially opposed the move, the episode underscores shifting dynamics within the ruling coalition and the growing assertion of the Shinde faction in local governance.
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