MUMBAI: The BJP-led Mahayuti’s dominant win in the municipal council and nagar panchayat elections, in a repeat of its sweeping mandate in 2024 state assembly elections, has demonstrated the alliance’s strength in the face of the Maha Vikas Aghadi’s (MVA) accusation of “vote chori” and multiplied the challenge for opposition parties ahead of the high-stakes contest for 29 municipal corporations, especially Mumbai’s BMC, on Jan 15.According to political observers, the BMC polls will be the final acid test for the Thackeray cousins — Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav and MNS president Raj — and the “almost defunct” MVA.Political analyst Birju Mundra predicted that the Mahayuti alliance will be more aggressive for the upcoming municipal corporation polls. “However, BJP and the Ekanth Shinde-led Shiv Sena will face a tough time in seats sharing as both will refuse to cede seats now.”He added: “Most Mahayuti ministers have fared well in their respective constituencies, so this will boost their morale and also their cadre. They will work overtime in the next 45 days…After Sunday’s polls results, there could be another outflow of netas and grassroots functionaries from Shiv Sena (UBT) and MNS to the Mahayuti. Also, with Congress going solo, BMC polls will be the final test for the Thackerays.” In Sept, Uddhav himself had admitted that the BMC polls will be an acid test for the MVA.A political observer pointed out: “Sena (UBT) hardly campaigned for the municipal council and nagar panchayat elections. It is true that the Uddhav-Raj alliance will make an impact on the BMC polls, but just harping on the Thackeray brand may not be enough…BJP will definitely carry forward the momentum of Sunday’s victory into the BMC polls.”Concurring that seat-sharing talks would be a challenge, poll data analyst Hitesh Jain said: “At the moment, Mahayuti holds an edge, but the MVA, especially Sena (UBT), still holds sway in the island city and central Mumbai. There has been a lot of delay in the BMC polls, so there will be many rebels who don’t get party tickets. What will eventually decide the winner is thin margins and votes of smaller parties like MNS, which has some influence in 25-30 wards.”“Also, this is the first BMC election after the split in Sena and NCP, so the situation could be complicated. The Mahayuti has shown that it can have tactical alliances and even break them, when required, so the same pattern could be repeated for corporation polls too,” he added.
