Shiv Sena (UBT) and Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi began a new chapter in the state politics by forging a pact ahead of the civic polls and next year’s general and Assembly elections. The parties’ respective chiefs, Uddhav Thackeray and Prakash Ambedkar, announced the union on Monday.

“It is decided that the partners should take care of their respective allies. If it is done, the nation-first theory will get justice from all of us. The MVA will have another meeting to decide the next course of action,” Uddhav said at the VBA office in Dadar. He added that he will continue to challenge the state government to hold elections immediately. “Hold the elections if you have real guts. Let’s see who wins,” he said.