Mahayuti finalises pact for municipal polls: Shiv Sena gets 87, BJP 40; Mumbra Vikas Aghadi to contest in 4 wards

THANE: The Shiv Sena–BJP Mahayuti late on Monday finalised its seat-sharing deal for the Thane municipal elections after a joint meeting of alliance leaders.According to sources said Shiv Sena will field candidates in 87 seats, while the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has been allotted 40 seats. The remaining four seats will be contested by the newly formed Mumbra Vikas Aghadi. The names of the candidates are expected to be announced on Tuesday. Sources added minor changes could still be made at the last moment, keeping in mind the possibility of workers switching loyalties.Meanwhile, hours after the announcement, angry supporters of a former BJP aspirant stormed the party’s headquarters at Pokhran 2 late on Monday night. They questioned the party’s decision to prioritise former corporator Amit Saraiya, who recently defected from the NCP (SP) and has been named as the candidate from ward 15, while ignoring loyal party workers and aspirants.Police were called in to disperse the crowd before the situation escalated.Similar dissent was also reported outside the Congress headquarters late on Monday after the party announced it would contest the civic polls on its own. Party loyalists expressed anger over the allocation of tickets.Senior leaders from Thane-based parties were unavailable for comment.