The BJP has warned the Shiv Sena about its alliance with the MNS in KDMC.
KALYAN: The political row between the BJP and Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) over the alleged removal of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s photograph in Pune has now spilled over into the Mahayuti alliance in the Kalyan-Dombivli Municipal Corporation (KDMC), with the BJP warning the Shiv Sena that it could walk out of the civic alliance if the Sena continues to share power with the MNS.
In the letter, Parab pointed out that the BJP and Shiv Sena had contested the 2026 civic elections as part of the Mahayuti, while the MNS had opposed the alliance.
However, after the elections, the Shiv Sena brought the MNS into the ruling arrangement, he said. Shiv Sena deputy district president Rajesh Kadam said the party did not support Thackeray’s alleged action, but maintained that the decision on continuing the alliance with the MNS would be taken by the party’s senior leadership. The warning was issued after MNS youth leader Amit Thackeray allegedly got a photograph of Prime Minister Narendra Modi removed at a government medical college in Pune. The BJP has strongly condemned the incident and demanded that the Shiv Sena immediately withdraw its support to the MNS in KDMC. BJP Kalyan district president Nandu Parab, deputy mayor Rahul Damle and other BJP corporators and office-bearers held a meeting to discuss the issue. Following the meeting, Parab wrote a strongly worded letter to Shiv Sena district president Gopal Landge, asking the Sena to take an immediate stand on its alliance with the MNS. However, the Shiv Sena has rejected the BJP’s attempt to dictate its alliance decisions.
BJP group leader Shashikant Kamble said the Shiv Sena had contested the elections as part of the Mahayuti under Modi’s leadership and therefore needed to decide whether it was appropriate to continue with the MNS following the incident involving the Prime Minister’s photograph.
The BJP had not opposed the move earlier as it wanted to follow the “Mahayuti dharma”, Parab said, while alleging that the MNS had repeatedly criticised BJP leaders and office-bearers and attempted to create differences within the alliance. If necessary, we are ready to sit in the Opposition in KDMC,” Kamble said. “Shiv Sena contested the elections in the Mahayuti under the leadership of Modi ji. Now, after an incident in which his photograph was allegedly removed, the Sena needs to think whether it wants to continue with the MNS.