Shiv Sena Partners with SAI Party, Shifting Political Dynamics in Ulhasnagar

Quick Summary

• Event: Shiv Sena has formed a local alliance with ulhasnagar-based SAI Party ahead of the Ulhasnagar Municipal Corporation elections.
• Key Political Players: Kalyan MP Shrikant Shinde played a meaningful role in securing the alliance. Earlier, he had also brought Team Omie Kalani (TOK) into the Shiv Sena fold, taking many by surprise.
• Tensions with BJP: A growing rift between Shiv Sena and BJP emerged after the latter’s Maharashtra state president Ravindra Chavan stated that BJP would secure mayoral positions in Kalyan-Dombivli and Ulhasnagar.
• SAI Party Background: Led by Jivan Idnani, SAI Party was onc aligned with Shiv Sena (2007-2012), switched to BJP in 2017, and now returns to partnership with Sena amidst shifting power dynamics.
• Outcome for Mayor Selection: The new alliances between Shiv Sena and both TOK (15 corporators) and SAI Party (5 corporators) make it challenging for BJP to achieve its goal of installing its own mayor in Ulhasnagar.

Indian Opinion Analysis
The evolving political alliances in Ulhasnagar reflect intricate power dynamics at play as parties jockey for control over municipal leadership ahead of elections. While these maneuvers point to strong strategy efforts from Shiv Sena under Shrikant Shinde’s leadership, they highlight increasing strains within the Mahayuti coalition at local levels-notably between long-time allies Shiv Sena and BJP. This could challenge alliance cohesion statewide if tensions spill beyond municipal boundaries. For voters, such fluid shifts may impact perceptions about party loyalty versus pragmatic positioning within grassroots politics.

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