In a significant political development in Maharashtra, the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) has extended its support to the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena in the Kalyan-Dombivli Municipal Corporation (KDMC), delivering a blow to Uddhav Thackeray’s camp. This move comes despite the Thackeray brothers contesting the civic polls in alliance with the MNS, highlighting shifting political dynamics in the state.

MNS Decision to Support Shinde Faction

Following the declaration of KDMC election results, the MNS announced its backing for the Shinde-led Shiv Sena, citing that the decision was taken by local party leaders “in the interest of development in the Kalyan-Dombivli region.” MNS chief Raj Thackeray authorised local leadership to make decisions based on ground realities, leading to this strategic shift.

KDMC Election Results

The recent KDMC elections witnessed a tight contest between the Shiv Sena and BJP, with the former narrowly outperforming its Mahayuti ally by three seats. The 122-member civic body results were as follows:

• Shiv Sena (Shinde faction): 53 seats

• BJP: 50 seats

• Shiv Sena (UBT): 11 seats

• MNS: 5 seats

• Congress: 2 seats

• NCP (SP): 1 seat

With the MNS’s backing, the Shinde-led Shiv Sena effectively secures support from 58 corporators, strengthening the ruling Mahayuti alliance and consolidating its influence in the KDMC.

Reaction from Shiv Sena (UBT)

The Uddhav Thackeray faction expressed disappointment over MNS’s move. Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Anil Parab stated, “This is their (Raj Thackeray’s) party’s decision. We will only talk about our own party,” indicating limited scope for negotiation with MNS at this stage.

Mayoral Election Process

The mayoral election for KDMC is scheduled for January 22, 2026, alongside elections in 28 other municipal corporations in Maharashtra. The Urban Development Department has issued an order for the lottery-based reservation of the mayoral post, which will determine eligibility for categories such as General, Women, Scheduled Caste (SC), Scheduled Tribe (ST), and Other Backward Classes (OBC).

Following the announcement of the reservation category, eligible candidates can submit nominations. The mayor is elected in a special meeting of the municipal corporation, where the candidate securing more than half the total strength of the House is declared elected. In closely contested civic bodies, alliances like the Mahayuti coalition often play a decisive role in determining the mayor.

Implications

The MNS’s support for the Shinde faction underscores the fluid nature of regional politics in Maharashtra, highlighting the importance of local leadership decisions in shaping alliances. The move strengthens the Shinde-led Shiv Sena’s majority in KDMC, giving it a significant advantage ahead of the mayoral election, and weakens Uddhav Thackeray’s influence in local governance.

This development reflects a broader trend of strategic realignments among regional parties, as political calculations increasingly pivot on ground realities and governance priorities rather than fixed electoral alliances.

With the KDMC mayoral election imminent, all eyes will be on how the Shinde-MNS combination leverages its enhanced strength and whether the UBT faction can rally its limited numbers to influence outcomes in other key municipal bodies.

This event is being closely watched as an indicator of regional power dynamics ahead of Maharashtra’s larger urban elections in the coming months.

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