Shiv Sena MP Shrikant Shinde on Wednesday announced that Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) councilors have extended their support to the Mahayuti alliance in Kalyan-Dombivli Municipal Corporation, paving the way for the alliance to form the civic body and elect its mayor.
Speaking to reporters, Shinde said that Shiv Sena has emerged as the largest party with 53 seats. He further said that BJP, Shiv Sena, MNS and other allies will jointly form the municipal government in Kalyan-Dombivli. He also expressed confidence that Mahayuti will achieve the post of mayor in Mumbai also.
Shrikant Shinde told reporters, “Shiv Sena has brought its 53 councilors here. MNS has also brought its councilors here and extended its support to Mahayuti. We will form the government in Kalyan-Dombivli with BJP, Shiv Sena, MNS and other parties. Mumbai will also get a mayor from Mahayuti.”
Reacting to the development, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Anil Parab said he was not aware of the developments in other parties and stressed that he could only talk about decisions taken within his own party.
Anil Parab told reporters, “I can only talk about my party. I can’t say what other parties will do. My party is Shiv Sena, and all decisions will be taken by Uddhav Thackeray.”
Elections to 29 municipal corporations across Maharashtra were held on January 15, the results of which were declared on January 16. The BJP-led Mahayuti alliance won most of the municipalities.
Of the total 2,869 seats in the municipal bodies, the BJP-led Mahayuti Party emerged as the clear winner in many places and won 1,824 seats. In the recently concluded local body elections, Shiv Sena (UBT) and MNS together could win only 168 seats across the state. Congress, which contested the elections with Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi (VBA), got 324 seats.
In Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad, the NCP, which was in alliance with the Sharad Pawar-led NCP (SP), won 167 and 36 seats respectively.
Meanwhile, the All India Majlis-e-Ittehad-ul-Muslimeen (AIMIM) made a notable presence in the state and improved its performance in the last municipal elections.