After days of closed-door negotiations and intense coordination, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena have reportedly sealed their seat-sharing arrangement for the upcoming Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections. As per India TV sources, the BJP will field candidates in 140 wards, while the Shinde Sena will contest 87 seats under the Mahayuti alliance framework.

The long-awaited agreement brings clarity to Mumbai’s high-stakes civic battle, which is seen as a prestige contest for all major political players in Maharashtra. Polling for the BMC is scheduled to be held on January 15, along with elections to other municipal corporations across the state. The counting of votes will take place on January 16.

Sources indicate that the final formula was reached after marathon discussions between senior leaders of both parties, aimed at addressing concerns over representation and balance within the alliance. While speculation of internal friction had surfaced earlier, leaders from both sides consistently denied any rift, maintaining that talks were progressing in a positive direction.

According to India TV sources, the Mahayuti partners had already agreed on most of the seats earlier, with negotiations continuing for a smaller number of remaining wards before the final seal was put on the deal. The conclusion of talks is expected to help the alliance focus fully on campaign strategy and booth-level mobilisation in Mumbai.

Earlier, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis had publicly played down reports of discord within the alliance and urged party leaders to maintain restraint in public statements. He reiterated that the BJP and the Shinde-led Shiv Sena are working in complete coordination and do not require repeated public announcements to prove unity.

The BMC seat-sharing deal comes on the back of Mahayuti’s strong performance in recent municipal council and nagar panchayat elections across Maharashtra. The alliance, which also includes the Ajit Pawar-led Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), emerged as the dominant force in those local body polls, strengthening its confidence ahead of the Mumbai civic elections.