Shinde-Naik rivalry big bother in Navi Mumbai and Thane civic polls, may lead to Sena and BJP contesting separately

Navi Mumbai: Political observers suggest that the BJP-Shiv Sena alliance is on the verge of a fracture in Navi Mumbai and Thane with both parties likely to contest the municipal elections in the two cities separately. The divide between the allies has deepened amid mutual allegations as the civic polls approach. Deputy chief minister Eknath Shinde and industries minister Uday Samant recently launched a fierce attack on BJP's Airoli MLA Ganesh Naik ahead of the elections. The Shinde-Naik rivalry has only intensified over the past few days, signalling a potential face-to-face contest as the BJP-Shiv Sena alliance considers splitting for the municipal elections.Naik has previously criticised Shinde, besides declaring himself the tallest leader in Thane district.At a Shiv Sena meeting in Navi Mumbai, Samant recently criticised Naik's janata darbar, asserting that Shinde conducts such gatherings spontaneously statewide wherever he visits. Vijay Chougule, another Sena politician from Navi Mumbai, stated there is no comparison between Shinde and Naik, highlighting that Naik has only 40 corporators in Navi Mumbai whereas Shinde commands 60 MLAs and hundreds of corporators across Maharashtra.Chougule described Shinde as a mass leader in contrast to Naik's status as a local leader. In a significant escalation of the turf war between Shinde and Naik, Shinde launched a comprehensive political offensive in Navi Mumbai, Naik's bastion, marking the commencement of the civic election campaign.Soon after Naik asserted he was the "tallest political leader in Thane district", Shinde convened a party meeting in Vashi, where he inducted Maharashtra Swarajya Paksh leader Ankush Baba Kadam into his fold. Kadam, who previously contested against Naik in the last assembly election, campaigned against Naik's dynastic politics.Shinde criticised Naik's janata darbar model and his assertions of political dominance. He stated that Thane, once a Congress stronghold, is now a Shiv Sena bastion. Shinde also targeted Naik's family members, who hold key posts, emphasising that the Shiv Sena is a party of the common man. Naik's comparison of Shinde to "Ravan" and dismissing his rise as a "lottery win" elicited strong responses from Shiv Sena leaders, who threatened to abandon the "alliance dharma" should such attacks persist. Former corporators supporting Naik have decided to approach chief minister Devendra Fadnavis to raise their voice against Shinde for insulting their leader. They are keen to fight the civic poll without the Sena. Former MP Sanjeev Naik will lead the team to seek the chief minister's intervention.Sena Thane MP Naresh Mhaske is critical of Naik's comments against Shinde and stated that Sena is ready to contest the civic polls alone if BJP continues to attack Shinde. Naik supporters believe that the Mahayuti alliance appears increasingly strained. Naik asserted that he has been ruling the Navi Mumbai civic body since its inception singlehandedly and that it will remain with him.