Overview

• Sanjay Raut said Shiv Sena (UBT) and the MNS will jointly contest the 131-seat Thane Municipal Corporation polls with a goal of winning more than 75 seats.
• Uddhav and Raj Thackeray’s public reconciliation was underscored by Uddhav inaugurating MNS’s Deepotsav at Shivaji Park, their seventh meeting since July.
• A broader, formal alliance for the BMC and other local bodies has not been announced, despite growing signals of coordination.
• Ruling-camp figures pushed back, with BJP leaders and the Shinde-led Shiv Sena criticizing the tie-up as opportunistic and predicting voter rejection.
• The NCP’s Thane unit declared it will fight alone, and Congress voices expressed unease over MNS’s inclusion, reflecting unsettled opposition equations.