Overview

• Sanjay Raut said Shiv Sena (UBT) intends to partner with MNS across Mumbai, Thane, Kalyan-Dombivli, Nashik and Chhatrapati-Sambhajinagar civic polls.
• Both parties are deliberately delaying a formal pact to keep seat-allocation discussions manageable and prevent internal friction among cadres.
• They have already tested joint operations by forming the 21-member Utkarsh panel for the BEST employees’ credit society election.
• Uddhav Thackeray has been the most vocal advocate of the tie-up while Raj Thackeray has maintained a cautious public stance.
• The ruling Mahayuti alliance led by the BJP has downplayed the potential threat of a reunited Thackeray front and expressed confidence in its local electoral strength.