Congress to Contest Mumbai Civic Elections Independently Amid Political Shifts

Congress's Independent Stance for BMC Elections

The Congress party has declared its intention to independently participate in the upcoming Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections, as stated by Ramesh Chennithala, the party's Maharashtra in-charge, on Saturday.

The BMC serves as the governing body for Mumbai.

On Monday, the State Election Commission revealed that elections for 29 municipal corporations across Maharashtra, including the BMC, are scheduled for a single phase on January 15, with results to be announced the following day.

Chennithala emphasized, “We will contest against the BJP and the Shiv Sena Uddhav faction.” He urged all secular and democratic residents of Mumbai to lend their support.

Currently, Congress is part of the Maha Vikas Aghadi alliance, which includes the Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) and the Nationalist Congress Party (Sharad Pawar) at the state level.

This coalition previously collaborated in the Maharashtra Assembly elections held in November 2024 but faced defeat against the Mahayuti coalition, which consists of the Bharatiya Janata Party, the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena faction, and the Ajit Pawar faction of the Nationalist Congress Party.

Chennithala's announcement follows remarks from Congress spokesperson Sachin Sawant, who indicated that the party would run solo in the civic elections if the Uddhav faction aligns with the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena led by Raj Thackeray.

“If we partner with MNS, who will support us?” Sawant questioned, highlighting the ideological differences between MNS and Congress. “The North Indians and Muslims may not vote for us.”

In August, Uddhav Sena MP Sanjay Raut mentioned that his party and the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena would contest the municipal elections, including the BMC polls, in alliance.

Raut also noted ongoing discussions about joint participation in municipal elections in Thane, Nashik, Kalyan Dombivali, and Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, asserting that “no one can disrupt the unity of the Thackerays.”

Chennithala stated that the decision for Congress to go solo in the BMC elections was driven by the desires of local party members. “We have granted them the authority to proceed,” he said. “We are currently drafting our manifesto, which we will present to the people of Mumbai.”

Raj Thackeray established the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena in 2006 after departing from the undivided Shiv Sena.

For the past twenty years, the Shiv Sena and the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena have been political adversaries.

However, on July 5, Uddhav Thackeray held a rally with his cousin Raj Thackeray, during which he expressed their commitment to unity, stating they had “come together to stay together.”

Uddhav Thackeray assured supporters from both factions that their reunion was merely the beginning of a larger movement to protect Marathi interests.