Nashik (Maharashtra): The Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) is set to contest the upcoming municipal corporation elections in Maharashtra as a united front, senior Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut confirmed on Wednesday. His statement came after the Supreme Court recently directed the state government to conduct elections to local self-governing bodies within the next four months, a decision that has finally cleared the path for long-pending civic polls across the state.
Speaking to reporters in Nashik, Raut said, “There is no doubt, we will contest maximum seats together as MVA. Discussions between Uddhav Thackeray, Sharad Pawar and Congress state chief Harshavardhan Sapkal are going smoothly. Except for one or two municipal corporations, we have no objection to fighting as a single bloc in all others,” as quoted by Saamana.
Raut's Corruption Remark Against State Govt
The Supreme Court order is expected to trigger election preparations for 27 municipal corporations in Maharashtra, which have been under administrative control since their terms expired. Raut accused the state government of using this period to indulge in corruption rather than governance. “Let them show one substantial achievement by any administrator in these cities. All they’ve created is a window scheme for corruption,” he alleged.
Raut's Swipe Over Eknath Shinde's Remark
Raut also took a swipe at the ruling Mahayuti alliance, citing Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde’s earlier remark that managing a three-party government is like a difficult delivery. “When a normal delivery is not possible, you need specialists. Have they appointed any? Or are they still taking advice from Donald Trump?” he joked, adding, “Two of their partners have never had a normal delivery, they are politically sterile.”
He went further to criticise the BJP for “claiming others’ success as their own.” “They like playing with someone else’s children and then calling them theirs. Maybe they should try a test-tube baby and see if that works,” he remarked.
The Shiv Sena (UBT) leader urged the state government to follow the Supreme Court's ruling in letter and spirit. “Democratic institutions are currently in the hands of bureaucrats, not elected representatives. It’s time to return power to the people,” Raut said.
While the MVA says it is fully prepared for elections, Raut claimed the government is delaying the announcement as it awaits readiness of electronic voting machines (EVMs). “As soon as their EVMs are ready, the notification will come. We are ready whenever they are,” he concluded.
