Uddhav, Raj Thackeray unite for rally ahead of polls

In Mumbai Municipal Corporation's Ward No 173, election campaigning has reached a fever pitch, pitting BJP against Eknath Shinde's Shiv Sena faction in a direct showdown. BJP candidate Shilpa Keluskar faces off with Shiv Sena (Shinde)'s Pooja Kambale, as BJP workers taunt their rivals by chanting "50 khokhas, ekdum okay" – a sharp jab implying tolerance for Shinde's alleged 50 unauthorized roadside stalls. This escalating rhetoric has turned the contest into a fiercely engaging battle, highlighting intra-alliance tensions ahead of the January 15 polls.

Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray announced on Thursday a rare joint election rally with Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Uddhav Thackeray in Thane on January 12, signaling potential collaboration as polls to 29 municipal corporations approach. Voting is scheduled for January 15, with results set for January 16. During his Thane campaign stop, Raj clarified he came to connect with party workers rather than speak, yet confirmed the upcoming joint event. He paid homage by offering floral tributes at the statue of late Shiv Sena stalwart Anand Dighe. Raj also visited the historic Shiv Sena branch at Charai—inaugurated by Bal Thackeray in 1986—where he signed the attendance register, underscoring familial and ideological ties. This development heightens anticipation in Thane and beyond, where Marathi identity issues fuel the electoral contest.

On the possible merger of both NCP factions, Maharashtra Deputy CM and NCP chief Ajit Pawar says, “Such matters are often discussed in the media. Whenever I meet people, they ask what will happen next. As of now, our focus is on the January 15 elections and how we can maximise our seats.”

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis will address election campaign rallies this evening in Vashi, Bhayandar, and Mumbai's Andheri and Chembur areas ahead of the crucial Municipal Corporation elections. His scheduled appearances underscore the BJP's aggressive push to rally support in key urban strongholds as polling day approaches on January 15. This high-profile outreach aims to energize party workers and voters amid intensifying competition from rivals like Shiv Sena and Congress.

Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar will tour four districts- Sangli, Latur, Parbhani and Amravati- to energise supporters ahead of the Municipal Corporation elections. He plans to address promotional rallies in these key regions, bolstering the NCP's presence in the electoral battleground. This strategic outreach highlights the intensifying efforts by ruling alliance leaders to consolidate voter bases as polls near on January 15.

The Maharashtra State Election Commission on Friday announced that Thursday, January 15, will be a public holiday in areas falling under the 29 municipal corporations where polling for civic elections will be held, an official said. The holiday will apply to government and semi-government offices, corporations, boards, public undertakings, banks and central government offices within the jurisdiction of the civic bodies. The poll commission said administrative preparations, including readiness of EVMs (electronic voting machines), have been completed, and urged the public to take an active part in the democratic exercise.

Shiv Sena (UBT) leaders unleashed criticism, accusing BJP of "dirty and communal politics." MLA Aditya Thackeray lambasted Deputy CM Fadnavis for neglecting public woes like Sambhaji Nagar's water crisis over the past three years, claiming the BJP resorts to divisiveness amid governance failures.