Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut has reached out directly to Congress chief Rahul Gandhi with a strong plea for opposition unity, coming right after the BJP-led Mahayuti alliance's resounding victory in Maharashtra's local body elections. This move highlights the growing pressure on the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) to close ranks ahead of the high-stakes Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) polls on January 15.

In the elections covering 288 municipal councils and nagar panchayats, Mahayuti—made up of BJP, Eknath Shinde's Shiv Sena, and Ajit Pawar's NCP—clinched 207 president posts. BJP topped the tally with 117, Shiv Sena followed with 53, and NCP secured 37, leaving MVA with a distant 44: Congress at 28, Shiv Sena (UBT) with 9, and NCP (SP) at 7. These results build on their 2024 assembly sweep, tightening the alliance's hold on local governance after years of ups and downs.

Raut's conversation with Gandhi shifts away from earlier solo contest ideas, stressing that fighting separately guarantees defeat against BJP. Shiv Sena (UBT) is even mulling ties with Raj Thackeray's MNS, but Congress pushes back hard due to differences on migrants and minority issues, making unity talks tricky.

The BMC race carries huge weight, given its massive budget and sway over Mumbai's roads, water, and development projects. Shiv Sena (UBT) must balance Marathi pride with broader appeal in a city where communities have diversified, avoiding the pitfalls that sank opposition efforts in previous urban battles—like Delhi's 2024 civic polls, where alliances lifted vote shares by 15-20%.

BJP sees this as clear validation of Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis's focus on delivery over "family names," strengthening their position across the state. For MVA, it's a wake-up call: without quick reconciliation, challenging Mahayuti's run becomes even tougher, and expect intense behind-the-scenes negotiations in the coming days.