Daijiworld Media Network - Mumbai

Mumbai, Dec 26: Senior NCP (Sharad Pawar faction) leader Jayant Patil on Friday met Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray to discuss the possibility of an alliance for the upcoming Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections, with just days left for the nomination process to conclude.

The meeting was held at Thackeray’s residence ‘Matoshree’ in Bandra and lasted for around two hours. It came close on the heels of Uddhav Thackeray forging an alliance with Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray for the high-profile civic polls scheduled on January 15.

Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Patil said the discussions were positive but no final decision had been taken yet. He reiterated that the NCP (SP) favours the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) contesting the BMC elections together to ensure better electoral outcomes.

“Our discussions with Shiv Sena (UBT) are ongoing, but we have not reached any conclusion so far. We are part of the MVA, and our effort is to form an alliance with Shiv Sena (UBT) for the civic polls,” Patil said, adding that talks with the Congress are also underway.

Patil said the party’s stand is that it should be allotted the same number of seats that the undivided NCP had contested in the 2017 BMC elections. According to party leaders, the NCP had contested 106 of the 227 seats in 2017 and managed to win nine.

Earlier in the day, NCP (SP) Mumbai unit president Rakhee Jadhav said the party expects 15 to 20 seats from its alliance partners in the upcoming elections.

Meanwhile, political signals remain mixed within the opposition camp. A senior NCP (SP) leader recently indicated that the party is more inclined to contest the BMC polls in alliance with the Sena (UBT) and the MNS rather than with the Congress.

Last month, Congress Mumbai unit chief Varsha Gaikwad had met NCP (SP) chief Sharad Pawar to discuss a possible tie-up, describing the NCP as the Congress’ “natural ally”. However, the Congress has expressed reservations about aligning with the MNS, stating that it does not support parties that allegedly indulge in intimidation or take the law into their own hands.

Polling for the 227 corporator seats of the BMC, along with elections to 28 other municipal corporations in Maharashtra, will be held on January 15, with counting scheduled for the following day. The last date for filing nominations is December 30.