Overview
- Uddhav Thackeray and Raj Thackeray announced a joint front for the January 15 BMC election and other civic bodies, vowing that the next Mumbai mayor will be Marathi and from their alliance.
- Uddhav said seat-sharing decisions are in place for multiple municipalities, including Nashik, but the partners have not released the BMC formula or candidate lists.
- Senior BJP and Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena leaders downplayed the reunion, calling it a bid for political survival and arguing it will not alter Mahayuti’s prospects.
- The Congress confirmed it will contest the Mumbai civic polls independently, with leaders citing opposition to any arrangement that includes the MNS.
- Realignments are unfolding beyond Mumbai, with NCP factions exploring coordination for Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad and reports of Congress–Sena (UBT) talks for a Pune tie-up still under discussion.