Cracks have started to show within the Mahayuti camp ahead of the upcoming civic elections, with strong indications that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena will contest separately in key municipal corporations.

According to political sources, the two allies have decided not to come together for the Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation elections. Leaders from both parties have reportedly directed their aspirants to move ahead independently, asking them to prepare and submit nomination papers without waiting for a formal alliance announcement. Nomination filing is set to begin today, and both parties are expected to issue AB forms to their candidates shortly.

The situation appears equally tense in the Mira–Bhayandar Municipal Corporation. Despite multiple rounds of discussions, the BJP and Shiv Sena have failed to reach a final understanding on seat-sharing. With the nomination deadline fast approaching, uncertainty continues to hang over the alliance.

Senior Shiv Sena leader Pratap Sarnaik confirmed that the party has given the BJP a strict 24-hour deadline to clarify its stand. This ultimatum is set to expire by Monday afternoon. If no positive response is received, the Shiv Sena is likely to release its own list of candidates and go solo in Mira–Bhayandar as well.

The deadlock is mainly over seat allocation. The Mira–Bhayandar civic body has 90 seats, with Shiv Sena seeking 40, while the BJP is reportedly willing to offer only 25. Sarnaik stated that earlier discussions with local BJP leadership, including MLA Narendra Mehta, did not result in a mutually acceptable formula.