KDMC Elections: BJP Workers Oppose Alliance with Eknath Shinde’s Shiv Sena in Kalyan-Dombivli

Ahead of KDMC elections, BJP workers in Kalyan-Dombivli oppose an alliance with Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena, exposing internal tensions in Maharashtra politics.

December 26, 2025 | Kalyan–Dombivli – Political tension has surfaced within the Bharatiya Janata Party in Kalyan-Dombivli ahead of the Kalyan-Dombivli Municipal Corporation (KDMC) elections, as a section of BJP workers has openly opposed an alliance with the Shiv Sena led by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde. The internal resistance has highlighted growing grassroots dissatisfaction and added complexity to alliance politics in one of Maharashtra’s most politically sensitive urban regions.

According to party sources, BJP workers in several wards of Kalyan-Dombivli have expressed strong reservations about contesting the civic elections in alliance with the Shinde faction. They argue that the BJP has built its organisational strength independently over the years and should contest the KDMC polls on its own merit rather than sharing space with an alliance partner at the local level. The dissent has reportedly been conveyed to senior party leaders through meetings and informal representations.

Kalyan-Dombivli has traditionally been a stronghold for the BJP, with the party enjoying consistent support due to its organisational network and leadership presence. Many local workers believe that an alliance could dilute the party’s identity and limit opportunities for long-serving grassroots leaders to contest elections. They fear that seat-sharing arrangements may sideline loyal BJP workers in favour of alliance compulsions.

The opposition to the alliance has also been linked to recent electoral outcomes and changing political equations in the region. BJP workers point out that civic elections are driven by hyper-local issues such as infrastructure, water supply, traffic congestion, and civic amenities, where local leadership credibility matters more than state-level alliances. According to them, voters in KDMC evaluate candidates individually rather than through alliance banners.

The Shiv Sena (Shinde faction), on the other hand, has been actively seeking to expand its footprint in urban local bodies across Maharashtra. Party leaders view alliances as a strategic tool to consolidate power and counter opposition challenges. However, the resistance from BJP workers in KDMC suggests that alliance coordination at the grassroots level may not be as seamless as projected at the leadership level.

Senior BJP leaders have so far maintained a cautious silence on the issue, emphasizing internal dialogue and party discipline. Sources indicate that the party leadership is assessing feedback from local units before taking a final call on alliance strategy for the KDMC elections. The situation underscores the challenge of balancing state-level alliance commitments with local political realities.

Political analysts note that such internal opposition is not uncommon in municipal elections, where local aspirations often clash with broader alliance strategies. In many cases, alliance decisions taken at the top face resistance on the ground, especially in regions where parties have independent strength. Analysts believe that how the BJP leadership manages this dissent will have implications for its performance in KDMC and other civic polls.

Opposition parties have seized upon reports of BJP workers opposing the alliance to question the unity and stability of the ruling coalition. They argue that internal disagreements reflect deeper contradictions within the alliance and could impact governance credibility. However, seasoned observers caution that pre-election dissent does not always translate into electoral damage if addressed promptly.

As the KDMC elections approach, the BJP faces a strategic dilemma: whether to prioritize alliance arithmetic or grassroots sentiment. The outcome of internal discussions will be closely watched, as Kalyan-Dombivli remains a bellwether for urban political trends in Maharashtra. The episode once again highlights the complexities of alliance politics, where local ambitions and voter expectations can significantly influence electoral strategies.

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