Mahayuti Alliance Falls Apart in Latur; BJP to Fight Civic Polls Alone

Latur: The long-expected seat-sharing tie-up between the BJP and the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) has collapsed just days before the Latur Municipal Corporation elections on January 15. The BJP announced it will contest all 70 seats on its own, ending talks with its would-be Mahayuti partner. 

Why Did the Alliance Break Down?

BJP’s Latur civic poll in-charge, MLA Sambhajirao Patil Nilangekar, told reporters on Tuesday, the last day of filing nominations, that the saffron party will now fight every seat independently. He insisted the BJP remains confident of winning the January 15 elections on its development record. 

A senior BJP leader said they tried hard to reach a deal with the NCP. But discussions broke down at the last minute over disagreements on seat distribution. He said that the alliance derailed due to the interference by second- and third-rung functionaries who threw a spanner in the works. 

Nilangekar said that NCP leaders, including Minister Babasaheb Patil, former minister Sanjay Bansode, and MLC Vikram Kale, were keen on contesting the polls as part of the alliance.

What Does This Mean for the Mahayuti Bloc?

The break in Latur is part of a wider trend of cracks appearing in the Mahayuti alliance ahead of local body polls across Maharashtra.

Political analysts say a split in pro-government votes could benefit opposition parties like the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) in some areas. With nomination deadlines looming, parties are rushing to finalise candidate lists and firm up strategies.