Congress stamps on the decision to go solo, Shiv Sena UBT says, will fight them too

Ending days of speculations over the future of Maha Vikas Aghadi in Mumbai during the upcoming BMC elections, Congress Maharashtra in-charge Ramesh Chennithala on Saturday (December 20, 2025) announced that the Congress will fight the upcoming BMC elections on its own steam. “We will fight against the BJP, we will fight against the Shiv Sena Uddhav group. We appeal to all the secular, democratic Mumbaikars to support us,” he said in Mumbai.

The announcement comes days after the Congress had expressed displeasure over Uddhav Thackeray’s growing proximity with his cousin and MNS leader Raj Thackeray.

Reacting to the announcement, Shiv Sena UBT leader Ambadas Danve said that the party is geared towards fighting the BJP and Eknath Shinde. “We have been wanting to fight together against the two of them. But if someone wants to fight us, we will fight them too,” he told The Hindu.

Supriya Sule said her party will need to consult with local leaders before giving any reaction to Congress’ decision. Earlier, Shiv Sena UBT leader Sanjay Raut had requested Sharad Pawar to speak with Congress to get them onboard as MVA to fight the BMC elections together. “The Congress has not yet communicated anything to us. We will speak with them. We will consult our local leaders and will take a call accordingly,” she told The Hindu.

“We are fighting these elections together. We have fought with MVA in the legislative assembly and in the Lok Sabha. But these are local body elections. Our local cadres want it. We have given them the permission to do so. We are preparing our manifesto. We will bring it to the people of Mumbai. There is corruption. No work is happening in Mumbai. We all know who is responsible for that. We want to highlight on it. Mumbai is India’s financial capital. No elections were held in the last four years,” Mr. Chennithala said in a press conference in Mumbai.

Thanking the Supreme Court for its order to conduct elections, he said, “Elections are taking place because of Supreme COurt. govt is directly running BMC, it is interfering in everything. they want to directly run the BMC. I want to thank SC that the elections are being held. we have decided, we will fight against BJP, against Shiv Sena UBT. All secular, patriots should support the Congress.”

When asked about the confusion among voters due to realignment, he said there will be no confusion. “People from all regions of India come to Mumbai. BJP has been dividing people on communal lines. This divisive politics needs to end. That is why Congress should be strengthened,” he said. He refused to comment on Sharad Pawar’s opinion that all the parties should fight together.

Congress leaders told The Hindu that the party had been holding a meeting with all the probable candidates, and that it had been getting getting candidates on all the 227 seats of Mumbai. “No approach, no alliance in Mumbai. We have formed a screening committee for choosing the candidates. It will be finalised in the next two days,” a senior leader said.

Background

The Congress had earlier expressed clear displeasure about Uddhav Thackeray and Raj Thackeray coming together. It had said that its core ideology does not allow it to join hands with divisive and communal forces which spread hatred in the society. While the Shiv Sena UBT had been trying to get Congress on-board to fight the upcoming BMC polls together, the Congress was miffed that it was not taken into confidence as the saffron party went into serious discussion with Raj Thackeray. NCP SP has very little stakes in the BMC elections. Traditionally, Congress and Shiv Sena-BJP have fought against each other in Mumbai. This time, Congress will fight separately, Shiv Sena UBT is likely to enter into an alliance with MNS which has very little ground strength comparatively. On the other hand, BJP-Shiv Sena will fight together.