Congress Opens Talks With Sharad Pawar, Proposes Alliance For BMC Polls In Key Mumbai Meeting | Politics News

The Mumbai Congress delegation proposed a formal alliance for the upcoming BMC elections, telling Pawar that NCP(SP) was their “natural alliance partner”. (PTI)

After announcing its decision to contest the upcoming Mumbai municipal corporation elections solo, the Congress is now seeking to bring the Sharad Pawar-led NCP(SP) on board as an alliance partner in Mumbai. On Wednesday, Mumbai Congress chief and Member of Parliament Varsha Gaikwad, along with Congress MLAs from Mumbai—Amin Patel, Aslam Shaikh, and Jyoti Gaikwad—met NCP(SP) supremo Sharad Pawar at his Mumbai residence. NCP(SP) leader Supriya Sule was also present.

According to sources, the Mumbai Congress delegation proposed a formal alliance for the upcoming BMC elections, telling Pawar that NCP(SP) was their “natural alliance partner” and should join hands with them. Sources further said that Sharad Pawar has called for a meeting next week between the Congress delegation and the NCP(SP) Mumbai president to discuss the proposal in detail.

“United NCP was our natural ally. Post the split in their party, we had contested Lok Sabha and state assembly polls with the Sharad Pawar-led party. Congress always takes along its alliance partners, including smaller parties in Mumbai. Let me tell you that the MVA is intact, but every party has the intention to grow,” Shaikh said.

Party insiders revealed that the Congress is willing to offer 15-20 seats to NCP(SP). In the last BMC elections, the then-united NCP won nine seats, while Congress secured 31 seats. However, the political landscape has changed significantly since the 2019 assembly polls and the formation of the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA), which brought the united Shiv Sena into the alliance.

Following splits within both the Shiv Sena and the NCP, this will be the first local body election where all factions contest separately. Uddhav Thackeray–led Shiv Sena (UBT), which ruled the BMC for over two decades, is determined to retain control against the BJP and the Shinde-led Shiv Sena. Uddhav is currently in talks with his cousin Raj Thackeray for a possible alliance in the BMC polls. Although no formal announcement has been made, it is expected that if the Raj Thackeray–led MNS joins Uddhav’s Sena, they would become part of the broader MVA—a move that many Congress leaders have openly expressed reservations about.

Sources also said that NCP(SP) is in parallel discussions with Shiv Sena (UBT) regarding alliances for the BMC and other local body elections. Once the BMC election dates are announced, NCP(SP) is expected to take a final call based on the prevailing political situation. With a limited footprint in Mumbai, NCP(SP) sees the BMC polls as a key opportunity to expand in the city. However, choosing between aligning with a struggling Congress or joining forces with Uddhav Thackeray, who is currently gaining public traction, will be a difficult strategic decision for the party.