Maharashtra to Hold Civic Elections on Schedule, Mahayuti to Contest as United Front: CM Fadnavis

Mahayuti Alliance to Maintain Unity and Avoid Internal Criticism During Poll Campaigning​

Pune, May 15—Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Thursday reaffirmed the government's intent to conduct civic elections on schedule, stating that the ruling Mahayuti alliance comprising the BJP, NCP, and Shiv Sena will contest the polls together wherever feasible.

Addressing reporters in Pune, Fadnavis emphasized that all alliance partners will participate cohesively, with a mutual understanding to avoid public criticism of one another during the campaign phase.

“We will try to conduct the civic elections on time in the state. If the monsoon is more intense in some regions, we will seek an extension from the Election Commission of 15-20 days if need arises,” Fadnavis stated.

Supreme Court Clears Path for Local Body Polls​

The civic polls, which have been delayed for over five years primarily due to the OBC reservation dispute, were recently greenlit by the Supreme Court. On May 6, the apex court directed the state election commission to issue a notification for the elections within four weeks, setting the stage for resuming the democratic process in local bodies across Maharashtra.

Strategic Seat Sharing and Unity Among Partners​

Fadnavis clarified that while the Mahayuti partners aim to contest jointly, specific constituencies may witness independent contests if seat-sharing proves impractical. “In exceptional cases, if there is a possibility that we have to go solo, we will do so. However, we will ensure that the alliance partners refrain from criticising one another during campaigning,” he said.

He further termed the civic elections a "mini-assembly election" and highlighted the alliance’s commitment to presenting a unified front.

Administrative Reforms and E-Governance Drive​

The Chief Minister was in Pune to address a workshop of civic commissioners and municipal council chief officers. Speaking on governance, he reiterated the Mahayuti government's focus on implementing major administrative reforms.

“We believe that increasing the use of e-governance is key to achieving this transformation, along with enhancing overall administrative efficiency,” Fadnavis noted, adding that the workshop was a part of their broader efforts toward transparent and citizen-centric governance.

Zero Tolerance for Gangster Glorification​

Responding to a query about a poster of jailed gangster Lawrence Bishnoi displayed during a Nashik event attended by Minister Gopichand Padalkar, Fadnavis asserted that strict action would be taken. “Instructions have been issued to act against those who displayed the gangster’s photo. The government will not allow the glorification of any gangster in the state,” he said.