BMC polls: Announcement on alliance with MNS likely in 2–3 days, says Raut

Shiv Sena Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray leader Sanjay Raut on Sunday said talks with the Raj Thackerayled Maharashtra Navnirman Sena MNS were in their final stages and that an official announcement on an alliance for the upcoming municipal corporation polls would be made in the next two to three days news agency PTI reportedSpeaking to reporters during the counting of votes for the local body elections Raut said Sundayrsquos discussions were likely the last round of talksldquoThis we believe is the last meeting In twothree days there will be an official announcementrdquo he said referring to the proposed alliance with the MNSWATCH Mumbai Maharashtra Shiv Sena UBT leader Sanjay Raut says The series of meetings has concluded meetings were held between Shiv Sena and Maharashtra Navnirman Sena Our alliance will be announced by tomorrow or the day after including details of how many seats eachhellip pictwittercom6jFu63CCk3mdash ANI ANI December 21 2025Elections to 29 municipal corporations including the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation BMC are scheduled for January 15 with counting to take place the following dayRaut acknowledged that the Congress a Maha Vikas Aghadi MVA ally of the Shiv Sena UBT has expressed reservations about aligning with the MNSldquoThe Congress has expressed its reservation over Raj Thackerayled Maharashtra Navnirman Sena MNS We tried to convince the Congress that to defeat the BJP it is necessary to come together However efforts are on to convince themrdquo he said adding that there was no bitterness between the Shiv Sena UBT and the Congress despite the lack of an alliance in MumbaildquoThere is no bad blood among usrdquo stated RautOn Saturday AllIndia Congress Committee General Secretary and Maharashtra incharge Ramesh Chennithala said there was strong pressure from party workers for the party to contest the BMC polls independentlyldquoWe will fight the polls on issues of common Mumbaikars like pollution healthcare and corruption Mumbaikars should give us a chance to serve them well The Congress is firm on contesting polls independently to protect the secular fabric of the metropolisrdquo Chennithala had saidOpposition alleges poll body bias money power after Mahayutirsquos local body poll gainsThe opposition Congress and Shiv Sena UBT on Sunday largely conceded defeat in the elections to municipal councils and nagar panchayats accusing the State Election Commission of ldquofacilitatingrdquo the victory of the ruling MahayutiCounting of votes for the posts of president and members in 286 municipal councils and nagar panchayats held in two phases began on Sunday morning In several places Mahayuti allies ndash the BJP Eknath Shindeled Shiv Sena and Ajit Pawarrsquos Nationalist Congress Party NCP ndash contested against each other while alliances and ldquofriendly fightsrdquo were also seen among MVA constituents including the Shiv Sena UBT NCP Sharadchandra Pawar and CongressState Congress President Harshwardhan Sapkal congratulated party candidates who won municipal president and councillor posts but in a terse remark ldquocongratulatedrdquo the state election commission for ldquohelpingrdquo the ruling Mahayuti alliance PTI reportedShiv Sena UBT leader Sanjay Raut alleged tampering of electronic voting machines and said the Mahayutirsquos victory was aided by a ldquohailstormrdquo of money that the opposition could not withstandWith PTI and ANI inputs