Overview
- The Sena (UBT)–MNS alliance was announced at a joint press conference after the cousins paid respects at Bal Thackeray’s memorial, confirming a combined campaign for BMC and other municipal bodies on January 15 with counting on January 16.
- Uddhav Thackeray said seat-sharing is finalised for Mumbai, Nashik and other cities, but no ward-wise lists were released; media reports suggest a provisional BMC split of roughly 145–160 seats for Sena (UBT) and 65–70 for MNS in the 227-member house.
- Raj Thackeray declared that Mumbai’s next mayor will be Marathi and from the alliance, framing the campaign around Marathi identity and a bid to curb vote-splitting.
- Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde dismissed the pact as opportunistic, with Fadnavis likening media hype to a Russia–Ukraine reconciliation and asserting it will not affect the ruling Mahayuti.
- Analysts warned of challenges integrating cadres and resolving local rivalries, and Congress signalled it will contest independently in many areas, complicating anti-BJP arithmetic.