Shiv Sena (UBT)’s BJP Support in Chandrapur Sparks Cracks in Thackeray Unity

The first signs of strain within the Thackeray camp have surfaced following the Mumbai civic elections, with Shiv Sena (UBT)’s decision to support the BJP in Chandrapur triggering a political controversy.

Despite the Thackeray brothers’ pre-election claims of unity, post-poll developments in Chandrapur have raised questions, as Shiv Sena (UBT) corporators backed the BJP. The Congress, which had the highest number of elected councillors, suffered a setback, with BJP’s Sangeeta Khandekar elected Mayor, while Shiv Sena (UBT)’s Prashant Danve secured the Deputy Mayor’s post.

The controversy erupted after the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) leader Sandeep Deshpande alleged that the BJP paid ₹1 crore each to Shiv Sena (UBT) councillors in Chandrapur. Shiv Sena (UBT) has denied the claims and challenged its rivals to provide proof. The developments have also triggered friction between the Congress and Shiv Sena (UBT).

“No one in the party has supported the Chandrapur incident. The party has no position of aligning with the Bharatiya Janata Party for the sake of power. We had taken a clear and public stand regarding the Mumbai mayoral election. If any stance has been taken in Chandrapur, the party will take note of it,” Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut said. He also expressed gratitude to the Congress for extending support in the Parbhani Municipal Corporation.

Responding without naming Deshpande, Raut questioned the basis of the allegation. “Those who claim that our councillors accepted ₹1 crore, were they sitting with the BJP to count the money? Were they entitled to a 20 per cent commission?” Raut asked.

However, Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee president Harshvardhan Sapkal criticised Shiv Sena (UBT) for supporting the BJP in Chandrapur, alleging that the party failed to uphold alliance principles. He contrasted this with Parbhani, where Congress councillors backed Shiv Sena (UBT) in the mayoral election to keep the BJP out of power, citing the broader interests of the INDIA alliance, the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA), democracy, and the Constitution.

Sapkal said that although there was a proposal for a Congress Mayor in Parbhani, the party chose not to pursue power at any cost. He claimed the developments in Chandrapur and Parbhani highlighted a pattern in which Shiv Sena (UBT) benefits from Congress support within the alliance but does not reciprocate when it comes to backing Congress candidates.

In the Chandrapur Municipal Corporation, the Congress and its allies held the support of 30 councillors, along with one from the BSP, taking their tally to 31. However, six Shiv Sena (UBT) councillors, despite being aligned with the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) at the state level, along with one councillor from the Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi, backed the BJP. With additional support from a Shinde Sena councillor and an Independent member, the BJP secured the Mayor’s post. One Vanchit councillor and members of the MIM remained neutral.​​