The decision of the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) to extend its support to the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena in the Kalyan-Dombivli Municipal Corporation (KDMC) following the civic election results appears to have strained its relationship with the Shiv Sena (UBT).
The two parties had contested the KDMC elections together. However, the MNS’s post-electoral support for the Shinde Sena provoked strong reactions from the leaders of the Sena (UBT).
Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray is reported to have expressed his disappointment over the MNS decision. According to party sources, Thackeray told KDMC’s Sena corporators (UBT) that the party would sit in opposition, while assuring them of full support.
He also conveyed that if the Sena (UBT) and the MNS had remained together, the KDMC could have seen strong opposition. Thackeray reportedly said the MNS move was unnecessary and could have been avoided.
Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut reacted sharply and said the developments in Kalyan were unacceptable and had damaged trust between the two sides. “What happened in Kalyan was not acceptable even to Raj Thackeray. The MNS has said that the decision was made at the local level and that the party leadership was not aware of it. But even if it were a local decision, if the party wanted to forge alliances with people like Eknath Shindewhom we consider traitors, then they should not have participated in the elections with us. “We will now discuss this internally with Raj Thackeray,” Raut said.
Raut also said that alliances forged before the elections should not be broken after the results, adding that local leaders responsible for such decisions should face action from MNS leaders.
Within the MNS, the decision has provoked mixed reactions. Leader Bala Nandgaonkar said he was not happy with the move and confirmed that a meeting had taken place between Sanjay Raut and Raj Thackeray. He also said that he personally did not approve of what happened at the KDMC, but noted that sometimes parties make decisions based on local equations and circumstances.
“In politics there are no permanent enemies or friends. Anything can happen in politics. But unethical practices should not be tolerated. Personally, this decision does not appeal to me, but sometimes parties take decisions depending on local equations. I think Raju Patil, who oversaw all this, must have argued with Raj Thackeray about it,” Nandgaonkar said.
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However, former MNS MLA Raju Patil defended the decision and said support was extended to ensure stability in the civic body. “Staying in power helps to complete the work faster. After the results, some corporators were not available. A decision had to be taken,” Patil said.
MNS leader Sandeep Deshpande said Raj Thackeray had given Patil complete freedom to take a local decision, keeping in mind the interests of the party and the ground situation.
