Barely a month after Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray reunited with his cousin and Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Uddhav Thackeray for the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections, Raj Thackeray’s party has extended support to the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena in a key civic body, triggering fresh political speculation in Maharashtra.

According to reports, the Shinde-led Shiv Sena is planning to form an understanding with newly elected MNS corporators in the Kalyan-Dombivli Municipal Corporation (KDMC). The move is being seen as significant, given the recent political realignment between the Thackeray cousins during the BMC polls, where they jointly contested against the ruling alliance.

The development comes at a time when political equations in the state remain fluid following the high-stakes BMC elections. While the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Shinde faction of the Shiv Sena emerged as strong performers in the BMC polls, both allies are currently engaged in a tussle over the mayoral post, delaying the formation of the civic body’s leadership.

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Raj Thackeray’s decision to support the Shinde Sena in KDMC has surprised political observers, as it appears to diverge from the cooperative stance he recently adopted with Uddhav Thackeray. The reunion of the Thackeray cousins during the BMC elections had raised expectations of a broader opposition consolidation in Maharashtra’s urban local bodies.

Political analysts note that local civic dynamics often differ from state-level alliances, with parties prioritizing influence and administrative control over ideological consistency. In this context, MNS support could prove crucial for the Shinde Sena in strengthening its position within the KDMC.

The latest move underscores the evolving and pragmatic nature of Maharashtra’s political landscape, where shifting alliances continue to shape outcomes in civic governance, even as larger battles unfold at the state and metropolitan levels.

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