Overview
- Eknath Shinde met Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi, offered Diwali greetings, discussed Maharashtra issues, and publicly called for discipline and unity in the NDA–Mahayuti.
- His outreach followed Devendra Fadnavis’ assertion that he will remain Maharashtra chief minister until 2029 and that alliance partners could contest many local bodies separately outside Mumbai.
- Seat-sharing for civic polls remains unsettled, with the BJP planning to contest about 150 of 227 BMC seats and signaling the mayor could be from the party as the Shinde-led Sena seeks a larger share.
- Tensions at the local level resurfaced as Shiv Sena leader Ravindra Dhangekar accused BJP MP and Union minister Murlidhar Mohol of irregularities in Pune land deals, allegations Mohol denied, prompting leaders to warn against public rancor.
- Shinde said grassroots elections require discipline from workers and he indicated that senior leaders will take the final call on whether partners fight together or separately in each locality.