Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Wednesday, June 11, 2025, clarified the Bharatiya Janata Party’s position on alliances for the upcoming local body elections, stating that the State party leadership will take the final decision on electoral partnerships. He added that while the BJP intends to contest under the Mahayuti alliance, friendly contests may be held in areas where seat-sharing arrangements are not feasible.

“Our state president, working president, and election committee have the sole authority to decide on alliances. No one else,” Mr. Fadnavis said.

Speaking to reporters, he made it clear that the BJP’s primary electoral platform remains the Mahayuti coalition, which includes allies like Shiv Sena (Shinde faction) and NCP (Ajit Pawar faction). However, he acknowledged the possibility of local-level differences, noting that cordial contests could take place without disturbing alliance harmony.

Mahayuti Will Lead, But Local Dynamics Matter

The Mahayuti, or grand alliance, has been the BJP's electoral vehicle in Maharashtra ever since the Eknath Shinde-led faction of Shiv Sena and the Ajit Pawar-led NCP group aligned with the BJP. While the coalition aims to present a united front, local body elections bring micro-level complexities that sometimes make full alliances unworkable in certain wards or districts.

“In places where alliances are not possible, we may go for friendly contests,” Mr. Fadnavis said, indicating a flexible approach to the upcoming polls.

The move is seen as an attempt to minimise internal friction within the coalition, especially where multiple Mahayuti allies have overlapping influence and candidate aspirations.

Delimitation Process Begins for Municipal Polls

In preparation for these elections, the Maharashtra government initiated the delimitation process on Tuesday, June 10, 2025, for 29 major municipal corporations, including:

• Pune

• Nagpur

• Thane

• Nashik

• Pimpri-Chinchwad

• Navi Mumbai

• Vasai-Virar

• Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar

• Kalyan-Dombivli

This development follows a Supreme Court directive in May 2025, which ordered the State Election Commission (SEC) to notify elections within four weeks and complete them within four months.

A Bench of Justices Surya Kant and N. Kotiswar Singh stated,
“The constitutional mandate of periodic local body elections must be respected.”

The court, however, added that the SEC could seek an extension if necessary, acknowledging the administrative challenges, including issues related to Other Backward Classes (OBC) reservation, which had caused multiple delays in past election cycles.

Emphasis on Grassroots Democracy

The court order has re-energised the democratic process at the local level, with the State now under pressure to complete delimitation and initiate elections. These elections are crucial as they cover urban governance structures, including municipal corporations, councils, and panchayats, where development and public service delivery is most direct.

Mr. Fadnavis’ remarks were aimed at dispelling confusion surrounding potential infighting or disagreement within the BJP’s broader alliance, asserting that clarity on alliance terms will be offered only by the State party’s official machinery.

Railway Safety After Train Accident

Apart from electoral matters, Mr. Fadnavis also commented on the train accident on June 9, which resulted in the loss of four lives. He said he had immediately discussed the matter in detail with Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, and that several key safety measures were being taken.

“The Railway Minister had an in-depth meeting with me on the same day. Various safety protocols and upgrades were discussed,” he said.

This is part of the larger narrative of coordination between the State and Centre in handling infrastructure safety and disaster response.

Road Ahead for BJP and Mahayuti

As the Maharashtra local body elections draw closer, the State BJP unit is expected to finalise alliance arrangements district by district. With delimitation underway and election dates expected to be announced soon, political activity is intensifying.

The local body elections will be a litmus test for the Mahayuti alliance, especially after recent Lok Sabha results and in light of internal rivalries within the coalition. The elections will also set the tone for the 2029 Assembly and General Elections, making these contests strategically important.

While Mr. Fadnavis’ statement aims to project a unified front, his acknowledgement of friendly contests hints at the inevitable push-and-pull of coalition politics at the local level in India

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