What is the story about?
The political battle for control of the Kalyan-Dombivli Municipal Corporation has intensified sharply, with allegations of defections, missing corporators
and police intervention adding to the churn just days after election results. On Saturday, the Shiv Sena led by Uddhav Thackeray lodged a police complaint claiming that four of its corporators were untraceable, amid fears that they could switch allegiance to the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena. The complaint was filed at Kolsewadi police station by local Sena (UBT) leader Sharad Patil.
'Missing' to Majority
The controversy has erupted at a crucial moment, as the Shiv Sena closes in on a majority in the 122-member KDMC. The Shinde faction currently has 53 corporators, while its state ally, the Bharatiya Janata Party, holds 50 seats. With the backing of five corporators from the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena and support from the four missing Sena (UBT) corporators, the Shinde-led Sena could cross the halfway mark of 62 and claim control of the civic body.
The Sena (UBT) has 11 corporators in the KDMC, but only seven have formally registered as a group with the Konkan divisional commissioner. According to party sources, two corporators are in touch with the Shinde-led Sena, while two others are not traceable. The latter are believed to be inclined towards returning to the MNS, having contested on the Sena (UBT) symbol due to local political arrangements.
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Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut accused the defecting corporators of betrayal and announced aggressive steps to expose them. “We filed a complaint with the police as our corporators are missing. We will put up posters in the KDMC. They were elected on our symbol. They are traitors and chose a different path 24 hours after their victory,” Raut said.
Party leaders as per a report by HT, identified the four uncontactable corporators as Madhur Mhatre, Kirti Dhone, Rahul Kot and Swapnil Kene. However, senior police officials struck a cautious note. A senior Thane police officer as quoted by HT said no missing persons case had been registered as there was no indication of coercion, adding that the corporators were believed to have acted of their own free will.
A Post Result Drama
The episode has also deepened tensions between alliance partners and within the broader political camps in Maharashtra. The Sena (UBT) has already voiced strong displeasure over the MNS backing the Shinde-led Sena. A senior MNS leader claimed the party had informed Sena (UBT) leaders that without MNS support, its corporators would have defected anyway.
Meanwhile, developments in other civic bodies reflect shifting political equations. In the Mira Bhayandar Municipal Corporation, the Shiv Sena has decided to sit in the Opposition. Of the 95 seats, the BJP has secured a dominant 78, while the Congress has won 13 and the Shiv Sena three.
Muzaffar Hussain, senior vice-president of the Maharashtra Congress, said that three Shiv Sena corporators were originally from the Congress. “We and the Shiv Sena will be in the Opposition,” he said.
