With Maharashtra heading for crucial local body elections on December 2, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Wednesday reiterated that the Mahayuti alliance remains united and ready for the polls. Speaking to reporters in Kolhapur, Fadnavis said that while the BJP, Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena, and Ajit Pawar’s NCP may or may not contest together before the elections, they are certain to unite after the results.
“The elections have been announced, and we are ready to face the polls. Our Mahayuti leaders will decide on alliances at local levels, but in any circumstance, we are together. Even if there is no pre-poll alliance, a post-poll alliance is certain,” Fadnavis said, expressing confidence that the people of Maharashtra would “back the ruling coalition in a big way.”
The State Election Commission has announced that elections for 246 municipal councils and 42 nagar panchayats will take place on December 2, with counting on December 3. However, the schedule for 29 municipal corporations, 32 zilla parishads, and 336 panchayat samitis is yet to be announced.
Reacting to Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray’s ongoing Marathwada tour—a region that recently suffered severe crop losses—Fadnavis said it was a welcome move. “It’s good that Uddhavji is touring the state. For the first time, he has come out, and I am happy. But he cannot go beyond taunting,” the CM remarked, adding, “I’ve said it before—show me one speech of his on development, and I’ll give Rs 1,000.”
When asked about MNS chief Raj Thackeray’s demand to postpone the polls citing voter list discrepancies, Fadnavis dismissed the possibility, saying, “As per the Supreme Court’s order, elections cannot be postponed. So he will not get the answer he’s looking for from the Election Commission.”
Fadnavis’s remarks come at a crucial juncture, as the Mahayuti coalition prepares to test its strength at the grassroots level for the first time since the Assembly elections, where it recorded a sweeping victory. His statement was widely seen as a bid to project unity amid speculation over differences among the ruling partners.
