Friendly fights in Mahayuti?

Immediately after the Supreme Court's directive to hold local body polls within four months, the ruling Mahayuti announced that the three parties would contest the elections in an alliance.

- SHAILESH GAIKWAD

With the opposition Maharashtra Vikas Aghadi (MVA) struggling to even announce whether they would contest together, it seemed like the Mahayuti was ready to contest as one unit. However, it is now emerging that its constituents may end up contesting against each other in cities where one of them is strong and also where the opposition appears weak.

BJP leaders in Nagpur have conveyed to the party that it can win the BMC on its own and should not spare seats for allies Shiv Sena and NCP. In deputy CM Eknath Shinde's bastion Thane, Shiv Sena leaders are saying the same. In neighbouring Kalyan-Dombivli, BJP leaders are confident of winning on their own. According to Mahayuti camp leaders, there could be seat-sharing disputes with the Sena in Navi Mumbai and other cities in MMR as well as Nashik. Similarly, working out a seat-sharing pact with the NCP in Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad will not be easy.

Many Maharashtra BJP leaders believe that the current mood after India's military action against terror camps in Pakistan is favourable for the party and hence it should not cede much space to its allies.