No hurdles in BJP-Shiv Sena alliance for municipal polls: CM Fadnavis

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Saturday stated that there are no obstacles in the alliance between the BJP and the Eknath Shindeled Shiv Sena for the upcoming BMC Elections 2026 reported the IANSHe said discussions on seat sharing are progressing on a very positive noteAn alliance will definitely happen and there will be no difficulties CM Fadnavis emphasised while speaking to the media in AmravatiCM Fadnavis outlined that BJP State President Ravindra Chavan is heading the talks supported by Revenue Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule senior leader Ashish Shelar and key local leaders from each municipal corporation area He added that as of the previous night discussions were ldquoon a very positive trackrdquoJoint coordination committee resolving technical detailsRegarding the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation BMC elections CM Fadnavis said a joint coordination committee including BJPs Ravindra Chavan and Senas Uday Samant is resolving technical details Any final issues will be personally addressed by him and Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde according to the IANSYouth representation and strategyCM Fadnavis announced that 40 per cent of BJPrsquos candidates in the BMC polls will be under the age of 35 The move is seen as a strategy to counter the ldquoson of the soilrdquo narrative promoted by the Thackeray cousins with a focus on development and youth as per the IANSAvoiding internal frictionThe alliance leaders have reportedly decided to exclude Ajit Pawarrsquos NCP from the Mumbai contest to avoid internal friction over the cityrsquos political dynamics BJP insiders say CM Fadnavis is positioning the BJP as the senior partner while ensuring Eknath Shinde retains enough seats to maintain Shiv Senarsquos identity the news agency reportedTalks for Thane civic polls near completion MhaskeMeanwhile talks between Maharashtrarsquos ruling allies the Shiv Sena and the BJP over a seatsharing arrangement for the upcoming Thane Municipal Corporation elections are almost complete with discussions pending for only three seats a Shiv Sena leader said on Saturday reported the PTIThane Lok Sabha MP Naresh Mhaske said the final details of the alliance would be announced soon by senior leaders of both partiesldquoThe matter concerning three seats has been referred to the leadership for a final decision The details of the alliance will be declared shortlyrdquo Mhaske said after a series of lengthy meetings between local leaders of the two parties according to the PTIHe added that Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde who heads the Shiv Sena and Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis have given clear instructions to ensure that the alliance remains strongldquoThere is clarity from the top leadership that the Shiv SenandashBJP alliance will continue and discussions are moving in that directionrdquo he saidThe Thane Municipal Corporation has 131 seats for which elections are scheduled to be held on January 15Alliance with NCPResponding to a question on why the Nationalist Congress Party NCP led by Ajit Pawar the third partner in the Mahayuti alliance was not part of the locallevel talks Mhaske said the partyrsquos city unit had opted outHe said NCP Thane city president Najeeb Mulla had publicly stated that the party would not contest the civic polls in alliance with the Shiv Sena and BJP and therefore it was excluded from the discussionswith IANS and PTI inputs