Within just a week of the municipal election results being declared, signs of trouble have emerged between the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT) and Raj Thackeray’s Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS). Cracks in the alliance appeared after reports suggested that the MNS would be supporting Eknath Shinde’s Shiv Sena, the Sena UBT’s biggest rival, in the Kalyan-Dombivali Municipal Corporation (KDMC) to help it claim the mayor’s post.

The KDMC election delivered a split result, with no single party getting a clear majority. In the 122-member civic body, the Shinde Sena emerged as the largest party with 53 seats, closely followed by the BJP with 51. Since at least 62 seats are needed to form the civic body, support from other parties has become crucial.