Maharashtra’s ruling Mahayuti alliance has confirmed it will fight the upcoming Zilla Parishad and Municipal Corporation elections as a united front. The announcement came after a high-level meeting attended by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Deputy Chief Ministers Eknath Shinde and Ajit Pawar, BJP state chief Ravindra Chavan, and other senior leaders.
Maharashtra Revenue Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule, also in charge of BJP’s local body poll strategy, said all district-level leaders have been instructed to complete the Mahayuti structure at the grassroots level promptly. He acknowledged minor disputes over 5-10% of seats but assured that Fadnavis and Shinde would personally intervene where necessary.
For the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections, the alliance will adopt a "4+4" formula. A coordination committee with four senior members each from BJP and the Shinde faction of Shiv Sena, along with representatives of other Mahayuti partners, will finalize seat-sharing. Any differences will be resolved by the top leadership.
Bawankule emphasized that the decision on the Mumbai Mayor post will be jointly made by Fadnavis, Shinde, and Pawar. He dismissed speculation about NCP Deputy CM Ajit Pawar’s role, affirming that the NCP is an inseparable part of the Mahayuti alliance. While minor differences arose among local workers in recent elections, they have been fully resolved, he added.
Addressing regional development, Bawankule highlighted that Vidarbha has seen significant progress since the Fadnavis government came to power in 2014, contrasting it with decades of neglect under the Congress. He also clarified that the Forest Department headquarters will remain in Nagpur, citing the region’s extensive forest cover.
The alliance’s united front comes at a crucial time as Maharashtra heads into key local body elections, signaling cohesion and coordinated strategy despite occasional local-level disagreements. The move reflects Mahayuti leaders’ intent to consolidate power across the state and ensure smooth governance and development continuity in the region.
