Digital Desk, New Delhi. Preparations for elections in 29 municipal corporations in Maharashtra have been completed. The alliance, seats and candidates of all the parties have been decided. Voting will take place on January 15 and counting of votes will take place on January 16.
After the Lok Sabha and Assembly elections, the fight to capture urban power is now going on. Because these elections will not just decide the local power, but will also decide what will be the direction of politics in 2029.
On one hand, Mahayuti (BJP-Shiv Sena Shinde faction-nationalist Ajit Pawar) is in the fray with full force in the state, while on the other hand, Mahavikas Aghadi (Congress-Shiv Sena Uddhav faction-nationalist Sharad Pawar) has also come out with full strength to form the city government. Apart from this, MNS, AIMIM, Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi and many local parties are also in the fray.
Narrative of Maharashtra politics
In the municipal elections in Maharashtra, all eyes are on Mumbai, the country's richest municipal corporation with 227 seats. The competition here is also most interesting. Because, the election result of Mumbai will decide the political narrative of entire Maharashtra. North Indian vote bank has always been considered important in Mumbai politics. Therefore, all the major parties are busy in wooing these voters.
Thane has been a stronghold of the Shinde faction since the beginning, while Kalyan-Dombivli has been a stronghold of Shiv Sena and BJP. This time the UBT-MNS alliance has given a direct challenge.
Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporations of Western Maharashtra are considered the strongholds of BJP. In Pune, BJP has fielded its candidates on all 165 seats. Whereas in Pimpri-Chinchwad, a direct fight is being seen between BJP vs Nationalist.
Nagpur and Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar
Nagpur with 151 seats is considered an impregnable fort of BJP. But this time Congress and nationalist Sharad Pawar faction have also fielded strong candidates. AIMIM has emerged as a strong force this time from Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar. Here there is a triangular contest between BJP, Shiv Sena (both factions) and AIMIM.
Akola, Amravati, Latur and Nashik
In these three places, Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi, Congress and regional parties are in direct competition with BJP. The influence of the deprived is highest in Akola. Whereas, if we talk about Nashik, the joint experiment of Shiv Sena (UBT)-MNS-Congress-NCP (SP) is more in discussion here.
At the same time, in Muslim-dominated cities like Malegaon, Bhiwandi, Nanded and Sambhajinagar, AIMIM, Samajwadi Party and local parties have been dominant. AIMIM is considered to be in the strongest position in Malegaon.
Apart from this, local parties and independent candidates can decide the balance of power in Kolhapur, Ichalkaranji, Amravati and Ahilyanagar. After the election results, coalition politics can be seen here.
It is noteworthy that this time in the 29 municipal elections of Maharashtra, BJP has put in all its strength to strengthen its hold in the urban areas. At the same time, Shiv Sena (UBT) is trying its best to save the Mumbai-Thane belt. Here Congress is trying to make a comeback in Vidarbha and Marathwada. Apart from this, AIMIM and Vanchit can also play the role of kingmakers in many municipal corporations.
(Note- 2 candidates of MNS are contesting on the election symbol of BVA, also Nationalist Congress (Sharad Pawar) has supported Bahujan Vikas Aghadi)
Kalyan-Dombivli Municipal Corporation (Total Seats – 122)
Unopposed – 20 seats (BJP – 14, Shinde Shiv Sena – 6)
Alliance – BJP + Shiv Sena
Congress + Vanchit + Nationalist Congress (Sharad Pawar)
Ulhasnagar Municipal Corporation (Total Seats – 78)
Shiv Sena (UBT) + MNS + Congress
Thane Metropolitan Municipality (Colle Citen – 131) BJP + Shiv Sena
Shiv Sena (UBT) + MNS + Nationalist Congress (Sharad Pawar)
Bhiwandi–Nizampur Municipal Corporation (Total seats – 90)
Unopposed election – 6 seats
Alliance- BJP + Shiv Sena
Shiv Sena (UBT) + MNS
Panvel Municipal Corporation (Total Seats – 78)
Chhatrapati Sanbhajinagar Municipality (Colle Seten – 115)
Kolhapur Municipal Corporation (Total Seats – 81)
Rajarshi Shahu Vikas Aghadi
Solapur Municipal Corporation (Total Seats – 102)
Amravati Municipal Corporation (Total Seats – 87)
Congress + Shiv Sena (UBT)
Nationalist (Sharad Pawar) – 14
BJP + Nationalist Congress
Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (Total Seats – 128)
Nationalist Congress + Nationalist Congress (Sharad Pawar)
Parbhani Municipal Corporation (Total Seats – 65)
Nationalist Congress + Nationalist (Sharad Pawar)
Congress + Shiv Sena (UBT)
Latur Municipal Corporation (Total Seats – 70)
Malegaon Municipal Corporation (Total Seats – 84)
Nanded–Waghala Municipal Corporation (Total Seats – 81)
Sangli-Miraj-Kupwad Municipal Corporation (Total Seats – 78)
Jalgaon Municipal Corporation (Total Seats – 75)
Ahilyanagar Municipal Corporation (Total Seats – 68)
Dhule Municipal Corporation (Total Seats – 74)
Jalna Municipal Corporation (Total Seats – 65)
Ichalkaranji Municipal Corporation (Total Seats – 65)