The upcoming Maharashtra local body elections, including the high-stakes Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) polls, have thrown up a political landscape marked by contradictions, tactical alliances, and unexpected reunions. Far from following conventional coalition logic, these civic elections have become a testing ground where estranged family members are sharing platforms, long-time allies are locked in open conflict, and ideological lines appear blurred in the pursuit of local dominance.

Elections to 29 municipal corporations across the state, including Mumbai, Pune, Pimpri-Chinchwad, and several other key urban centres, are scheduled to be held on January 15, with counting of votes set for January 16. While civic elections are typically viewed as contests focused on local governance and municipal issues, this year’s polls carry significant political weight. They are widely seen as a barometer of grassroots strength ahead of future Assembly and parliamentary battles in Maharashtra.

Family ties override factional divides

One of the most striking features of the current civic election season is the coming together of political relatives who had previously been bitter rivals. In the Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) elections, both factions of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP)—led by uncle Sharad Pawar and nephew Ajit Pawar—have decided to join hands. The move has raised eyebrows, especially given the sharp split in the party and Ajit Pawar’s alignment with the BJP-led Mahayuti government at the state level.

Ajit Pawar, who currently serves as Maharashtra’s deputy chief minister, has defended the decision, arguing that local body elections demand a different approach from state or national contests. According to him, the arrangement is aimed at consolidating votes and strengthening party workers on the ground rather than signalling any broader political realignment. He has insisted that contesting civic polls together does not contradict the NCP faction’s role within the Mahayuti alliance, describing the strategy as a pragmatic one driven by local realities.

Similarly, Mumbai has witnessed a dramatic thaw in relations between estranged cousins Uddhav Thackeray and Raj Thackeray. Once close allies, the two leaders parted ways in 2005, leading to the formation of the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) by Raj Thackeray. Their rivalry has shaped Mumbai’s politics for nearly two decades. However, in a surprising development, the Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray faction) and the MNS have come together for the BMC elections, setting aside years of political acrimony.

The reunion has been framed by supporters as a necessary step to protect Marathi interests and challenge the dominance of the BJP and the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena faction in Mumbai. Critics, however, see it as a marriage of convenience driven by electoral survival rather than ideological convergence.

Allies at war within the Mahayuti

If former rivals are reconciling, long-standing allies are simultaneously turning against one another. Within the BJP-led Mahayuti alliance, cracks have become increasingly visible as civic polls approach. In Pune, the Maharashtra BJP has filed a complaint with the Election Commission against its own ally, the NCP, alleging the installation of illegal hoardings and banners ahead of the municipal elections.

Maharashtra BJP general secretary Rajesh Pande confirmed that the complaint was lodged not only against the NCP but also against other parties accused of violating election norms. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, addressing party workers in Pune, publicly urged restraint and asked them to avoid putting up illegal flex boards and banners that deface the city’s appearance. The episode has highlighted the intense competition among allies, particularly in urban centres where control of municipal bodies translates into financial and administrative influence.

Tensions between the BJP and the Ajit Pawar-led NCP faction have also spilled into the public domain through sharp exchanges between senior leaders. In response to criticism from Ajit Pawar, Chief Minister Fadnavis remarked that while Pawar preferred to speak, he believed in delivering work. The comment, made during an interaction in Pune, underscored the growing unease within the alliance as both parties vie for supremacy in key civic bodies like Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad.

Political jibes and symbolic attacks

The unusual alliances have not gone unnoticed by political opponents, and they have become fodder for sharp political attacks. Chief Minister Fadnavis has been particularly vocal in criticising the reunion of the Thackeray cousins. Addressing a rally in Mumbai in support of the BJP–Shiv Sena (Eknath Shinde) alliance, he described the BMC election as a “battle for survival” for Uddhav and Raj Thackeray rather than a fight for the interests of Marathi people.

In a symbolic move, Fadnavis asked rally organisers to play old video clips of the two cousins criticising each other after their 2005 split. The gesture was intended to question the sincerity of their alliance and portray it as opportunistic. He also reiterated that Mumbai is an inseparable part of Maharashtra, countering narratives that seek to mobilise voters on emotional or identity-based lines.

The Ambernath surprise

Perhaps the most dramatic illustration of the fluidity of alliances came from Ambernath, where a rare and controversial tie-up briefly emerged between local units of the BJP, the Ajit Pawar-led NCP, and Congress leaders under the banner of the Ambernath Vikas Aghadi (AVA). The alliance was announced by local leaders to challenge Shiv Sena’s long-standing control over the Ambernath Municipal Council.

However, the proposed alliance was swiftly rejected by the central leaderships of the BJP and Congress, leading to confusion and political drama. Despite the turmoil, Shiv Sena-backed NCP councillor Sadashiv Hender Patil was elected vice-president of the Ambernath Municipal Council, defeating the BJP nominee. The election, held amid shouting matches and ruckus during the council meeting, exposed the disconnect between local-level political calculations and state-level party strategies.

Civic polls with larger implications

The current civic elections in Maharashtra are more than just contests for municipal control. They reflect deeper shifts in the state’s political culture, where ideological rigidity is giving way to tactical flexibility. Leaders are willing to overlook past rivalries or strain current alliances if it helps secure local power and organisational strength.

For voters, the strange dynamics raise important questions about accountability and clarity. While parties argue that local issues require local solutions and flexible alliances, critics warn that such arrangements may confuse voters and weaken ideological commitments.

As Maharashtra heads to the polls on January 15, the outcome of these elections will offer critical insights into which strategies resonate with the electorate. Whether voters reward reunions, punish infighting among allies, or prioritise governance over political theatrics will shape not just municipal administrations, but also the trajectory of state politics in the years to come.