Mahayuti Alliance Dissolves as Partners Contest Jalna Municipal Elections Independently

The Mahayuti alliance has collapsed ahead of the Jalna Municipal Corporation elections, with BJP, Shiv Sena, and NCP deciding to run independently. NCP's Ajit Pawar cited neglect in seat-sharing discussions as a key reason for the split.

The Mahayuti alliance has fractured ahead of the Jalna Municipal Corporation (JMC) elections in Maharashtra. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Shiv Sena, and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) will contest the January 15 elections separately. This decision was finalised on the last day for filing nominations, highlighting the breakdown in negotiations over seat-sharing.

On Monday night, Ajit Pawar's NCP announced its independent candidacy. They claimed their strength was overlooked by BJP and Shiv Sena. Arvind Chavan, NCP Jalna district president, expressed dissatisfaction with being excluded from seat-sharing discussions. "We were not given due respect. Our party was ignored despite its organisational strength. Hence, we have decided to contest the elections independently and demonstrate our strength," Chavan stated.

Seat-Sharing Disagreements

BJP leader Kailash Gorantyal mentioned that initial seat-sharing talks failed due to disagreements. The Shiv Sena wanted to contest seats claimed by BJP, leading to a lack of consensus. "As no consensus could be reached, we have decided to contest the elections independently," Gorantyal explained. Consequently, both BJP and Shiv Sena nominated candidates for all 65 JMC seats.

In contrast, the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) coalition has successfully finalised its seat-sharing arrangement. The MVA includes Congress, Shiv Sena UBT, and NCP SP. Sources reveal Congress will field candidates in 42 seats, Shiv Sena UBT in 12, and NCP SP in 11 seats.

Upcoming Elections

The JMC elections are set for January 15, with January 2 as the deadline for withdrawing nominations. With multiple parties entering the race independently, a competitive multi-cornered battle is anticipated. Jalna is among 29 municipal corporations scheduled for polls on this date.

The Mahayuti split has intensified competition in the upcoming elections. Each party aims to showcase its strength independently after failed negotiations over seat-sharing arrangements.

With inputs from PTI