Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut asserts that the Congress must be included in the MVA alliance for the upcoming Mumbai civic elections

by Webdesk
02 Dec 2025

Source: The Times Of India

Mumbai: With the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections approaching, the political atmosphere in Maharashtra has heated up. After the Congress announced that it would contest the BMC polls independently and Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray stated that the Congress is free to take its own political decisions, Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut commented strongly on the issue on Monday. Raut said he will visit Delhi next week to hold direct discussions with the Congress high command.

“Congress must remain a part of the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) for the BMC election — this has been and will continue to be our stand,” Raut asserted. He clarified that communication between Shiv Sena (UBT) and Congress is still active and efforts are underway to resolve the tension. “If the confident mood in Congress has risen after the Bihar assembly election results and they wish to fight the BMC polls alone, we understand their perspective. However, our position is constant — Mumbai needs the MVA united, and Congress should remain within the alliance for the BMC battle,” Raut said.

Raut also took a swipe at the internal tussle within the Mahayuti alliance. Targeting the Eknath Shinde faction, he said, “Union Home Minister Amit Shah will be the one to dig the political grave of Shinde’s Shiv Sena.” Earlier, Uddhav Thackeray had stated that Congress is an independent party and has complete right to decide its course of action, especially after the Congress declared it would contest the BMC election on its own.

Continuing his attack on the ruling alliance, Sanjay Raut said, “Raj Thackeray and Uddhav Thackeray met recently. Raj Thackeray presented a detailed plan regarding the BMC. Everything that is happening on that front is moving positively. What Eknath Shinde says now has little significance. Our position remains unchanged — Congress should remain with us. However, if Congress chooses to contest independently due to increased confidence, that is their prerogative. But if Raj Thackeray joins hands with us, the BJP will certainly be defeated. Mumbai’s biggest enemy is the BJP. Mumbai is being forcibly handed over to Adani. To stop this from happening, it is necessary to take Raj Thackeray along.”

Raut’s criticism didn’t stop there. He also targeted the Shinde faction over alleged money distribution during the election. “The ‘Gulabo Gang’ within the Shinde group has announced that ‘Lakshmi Darshan’ will take place on December 1. The Election Commission must take serious note of this. Reports are emerging that ₹10,000 to ₹15,000 is being paid per vote in several wards. Never in the history of municipal elections has money been used so openly. Traditionally, these elections have been fought on a local leadership basis. But now we are seeing five–six helicopters, private jets — lavish expenditure everywhere,” Raut alleged.

He further said, “People are claiming that the opposition is weak — that is completely untrue. What has really happened is that the election culture of Maharashtra has been completely damaged. In the last four to five years, under the leadership of Devendra Fadnavis, the political atmosphere has deteriorated significantly. Now the three ruling parties are competing internally, each trying to prove who is bigger.”

Raut’s remarks clearly indicate that Shiv Sena (UBT) is determined to retain the MVA unity for the BMC battleground. If the Congress chooses to remain separate, the entire political equation of Mumbai may change drastically. At the same time, his statements suggest that the tensions within Mahayuti — between Shinde’s Shiv Sena and the BJP — are also intensifying.

As the BMC elections draw nearer, both alliances — MVA and Mahayuti — are preparing for a showdown while dealing with their internal political challenges. The results of this high-stakes election will not only decide which side gains control of India’s richest municipal body, but may also determine the future balance of political power in Maharashtra.

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02 Jan 2026

BMC Elections

Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut asserts that the Congress must be included in the MVA alliance for the upcoming Mumbai civic elections

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