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Meanwhile, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut claimed the decision to support Shinde’s Shiv Sena in KDMC was taken by MNS’s local leadership — not Raj Thackeray himself.
After receiving MNS support in Kalyan-Dombivli, Eknath Shinde praised Raj Thackeray, saying he prioritised broader development over personal political gain.
Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray on Wednesday met Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde in Mumbai, weeks after the MNS extended support to Shinde’s Shiv Sena in the Kalyan-Dombivli Municipal Corporation (KDMC) following the civic poll results.
The meeting comes at a significant time in Maharashtra politics as two major parties– Shiv Sena and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) saw a split in recent years, and the BJP emerged as a dominant player. In the first elections after the Shiv Sena split, Uddhav Thackeray’s party performed well in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls in Mumbai but has since been losing ground in the city.
Raj Thackeray had recently joined hands with his cousin Uddhav Thackeray after nearly two decades to contest municipal corporation elections across Mumbai, Thane, Mira-Bhayandar, Kalyan-Dombivli, Pune, and Nashik. However, the alliance faced a major setback in Mumbai. Shiv Sena (UBT) secured 65 seats, while the MNS managed to win only six.
After receiving MNS support in Kalyan-Dombivli, Eknath Shinde praised Raj Thackeray, saying he prioritised broader development over personal political gain.
“The MNS has supported Shiv Sena for development in Kalyan-Dombivli. Earlier too, MNS was with us in the Lok Sabha and Assembly elections. The BJP–Shiv Sena alliance is not temporary, and now MNS has also joined it. Raj has never worked for personal gain,” Shinde said.
Meanwhile, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut claimed the decision to support Shinde’s Shiv Sena in KDMC was taken by MNS’s local leadership — not Raj Thackeray himself.
Raut said Raj Thackeray was “distressed” over the development and did not endorse the move.
“Raj Thackeray has said this is not his or his party’s decision. If local leaders have acted against the party line, strict action should be taken. Just like in Ambernath, when Congress councillors joined the BJP, they were expelled,” Raut stated.
February 18, 2026, 14:53 IST
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