Given the unprecedented split in the Shiv Sena three years ago and the formation of two factions in the Nationalist Congress Party, there is no confirmation if the parties will contest the local body polls on thier own or within allainces. There is a possibility of a Mahayuti vs Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) contest in the upcoming local body elections in the Buldhana district. The main focus of the Shinde’s faction and Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray’s (UBT) faction, and Nationalist Congress Party (Ajit Pawar) and Nationalist Congress Party (SP) group is currently increasing their strength and numbers in the district. In the meantime, SS (Shinde) has absorbed some local big leaders of the Congress, while the NCP (AP) has also increased its strength by including important figures from the Sharad Pawar group. The implication of the indicative statement made by the Guardian Minister of the Nationalist Congress Party, Makarand Patil, at a meeting in Khamgaon, was later seen.

 

Although the Lok Sabha and Assembly elections have been held, it would not be an exaggeration to say that the two groups faced a tough fight. In the Lok Sabha, Prataprao Jadhav won by a tight margin, while in the Assembly elections, the UBT group won the Mehkar constituency and tied the race. The Ajit Pawar group snatched the seat of the Sharad Pawar group. This local body election will be a battle of survival for both the forces. Earlier, the Shiv Sena, which was united, had more comparative strength in the local bodies. Now that there are two parties, Sena (Shinde) and Sena (Uddhav), they will focus on increasing their strength. Therefore, they will have to find new strongholds and devise strategies to gain power by satisfying those who came with them.

 

Although Shinde group seems to be somewhat ahead in the district at present, Uddhav group is also preparing like the Lok Sabha and Assembly elections. Compared to the united Shiv Sena, the strength of the NCP was less in Buldhana district. Therefore, both the NCP groups will have to work harder in the upcoming elections. Currently, the Guardian Minister of the district is from the Ajit Pawar group, so his side is building a strong front. In comparison, the picture is that the Sharad Pawar group is weak. The future of former minister Dr Rajendra Shingne, who was once a strong face of the NCP in the district, will also depend on these elections.

 

The constituent parties of the Mahayuti and Mahavikas Aghadi are preparing to contest the elections on their own or through their alliance. Although the number of Zilla Parishad groups, and candidates are not yet been decided. BJP has also started preparations for the local body elections. Congress is the largest party in the local bodies in the district. BJP is next in line. After the split in Shiv Sena and NCP, their strength has been divided to some extent. Therefore, if the Mahayuti and Maha Vikas Aghadi fight together, how much seats they will win and if they fight alone will be decided after doing the analysis of the chanakyas in the district.