Even though BJP and Shiv Sena (Eknath Shinde faction) are together in Maharashtra and the Centre, the sourness between the two parties has once again come to the fore in Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR). After Kalyan-Dombivli Municipal Corporation (KDMC), now in Mira-Bhayandar Municipal Corporation (MBMC), Congress and Shiv Sena of Eknath Shinde faction have joined hands and formed a joint opposition front against BJP.
In Mira-Bhayandar Municipal Corporation, corporators from Congress and Shinde faction have together formed a common opposition platform by the name of Mira-Bhayandar City Development Front (Shahar Vikas Aghadi). Tension is continuously increasing in the relations between BJP and Shiv Sena at the level of Municipal Corporation. Earlier, such signs have also been seen in KDMC, Thane and Navi Mumbai. In fact, in the Mira-Bhayandar Municipal Corporation elections of the year 2026, BJP has achieved a big victory and won 78 out of 95 elected seats. However, nomination of five corporators is yet to be done. Despite this, opposition parties have started registering their presence within the Municipal Corporation.
On this entire incident, Maharashtra Transport Minister and senior Shinde faction leader Pratap Sarnaik said that the corporators of Congress and Shiv Sena (Shinde faction) have together formed an opposition front, so that the majority of any one party cannot be misused. He clarified that this is neither a formal alliance nor a merger with Congress. Sarnaik said, this group has been formed so that the opposition also has a voice in the Municipal Corporation. This step has been taken in the interest of the people of Mira-Bhayandar. 16 corporators have come together keeping aside their political differences for the development of the city.
At present, this opposition front includes 13 corporators from Congress, 3 from Shinde faction's Shiv Sena and one independent corporator. In this way the total number has become 17. According to the rules of the Municipal Corporation, the largest opposition party or alliance gets the post of Leader of Opposition, representation in the Standing Committee and rights related to nomination.
Talks have taken place between Congress and Shiv Sena (Shinde faction) regarding formal faction registration and leader selection and councilor Jai Thakur has been made the leader of this faction. Vikram Pratap Singh, leader of Mira Bhainder of Shinde faction, said that this alliance has been formed to keep an eye on the welfare of the city and the functioning of the Municipal Corporation. This will not be a permanent alliance but will play the role of a watch dog in the municipality.
The BJP, under the leadership of Narendra Mehta, has achieved a unilateral victory in Mira Bhayandar by winning 78 out of 95 seats. He says that Shinde Shiv Sena has abandoned the ideals of Balasaheb Thackeray. By joining hands with Congress, Shiv Sena has adopted Muslim appeasement. Making statements against Congress in Maharashtra Assembly and embracing it in Mira Bhaindar is a dual policy.
Political analysts believe that this development clearly highlights the difference between power sharing at the state level and the politics of local bodies. BJP has strongly criticized this move. BJP leaders say that this proves their old point about the alleged internal understanding between Congress and Shiv Sena during the elections to be true. BJP has accused the opposition of adopting double standards. This new political equation formed in Mira-Bhayander can make local politics more interesting in the coming days.
