Overview
- After a late-night, 90‑minute meeting in Nagpur, Devendra Fadnavis and Eknath Shinde agreed the Mahayuti will run together in all remaining municipal polls, including Mumbai’s BMC and Thane.
- The allies adopted an internal directive barring BJP and Shiv Sena office-bearers and workers from switching sides to curb poaching seen in the first phase of local-body voting.
- Seat-sharing and ward‑level coordination talks are slated to begin within two to three days, with local units tasked to settle allocations and campaign responsibilities.
- Shinde told his MLAs to observe alliance dharma and avoid public spats, as BJP, Shiv Sena and the Ajit Pawar–led NCP prepare a united slate for the final two phases.
- Talks will be contentious in Mumbai: Shinde’s camp plans to seek about 125 BMC seats and warns it could go solo if sidelined, while BJP figures want to contest at least around 150.