Despite internal war, BJP will take along partners in polls

BJP may be using new strategies this season and may go for a different kind of seat sharing or friendly fight formula with alliance partners

- ROHIT CHANDAVARKAR

As the festive season ended and politicians got back to work, Union Minister Amit Shah's Mumbai visit was watched closely by leaders of all political parties as well as observers in Maharashtra, as it perhaps marked the symbolic beginning of the BJP's campaign for the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) polls, which will mostly happen in January 2026.

Shah held many meetings and also laid the foundation stone for the BJP's new office in South Mumbai. The indication coming from the top leadership in Maharashtra during all these high-profile events was that the saffron party, at least as of now, wants to continue with the Mahayuti alliance and take their partners along during the big civic poll season coming in the next few months.

BJP insiders indicated that the party has decided to go for a seatsharing deal with Eknath Shinde's Shiv Sena and Ajit Pawar's NCP in the BMC polls, while in Thane and Pune there might be a different decision. "We must have a tripleengine sarkar in the municipal corporations and defeat the opposition unitedly," said Amit Shah, speaking before the BJP activists in South Mumbai. A clear indication that the BJP thinks winning the BMC is a crucial target for the party.