"We'll contest as Mahayuti, fight on development agenda": Maharashtra DyCM Shinde

"We will contest as Mahayuti at both the local and senior levels. In the past three and a half years, we've carried out several development projects and presented them before the people. We will fight this election on the strength of development and our agenda of progress. The public is wise," Shinde said to the media.

On seat-sharing concerns within the alliance, Shinde admitted that there are always many aspirants. "When there's an alliance, there are always many aspirants, but we'll accommodate them at other suitable places," he said.

Meanwhile, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Monday held a 90-minute closed-door meeting where the ruling Mahayuti decided to contest the upcoming municipal elections, including in Mumbai and Thane, together, an official release said.

State BJP president Chandrashekhar Bawankule and senior Shiv Sena leader Ravindra Chavan were also present. According to the Shiv Sena's release, both parties discussed fighting the civic polls unitedly as Mahayuti.

Both sides have also agreed that BJP and Shiv Sena workers will not be allowed to switch sides.

The civic polls are expected to see a direct contest between the ruling Mahayuti, comprising the BJP, Shiv Sena (Shinde faction) and NCP (Ajit Pawar faction) and the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi, which includes the Congress, Shiv Sena (UBT) (Uddhav Thackeray faction) and NCP (Sharad Pawar faction or NCP-SP) and other contesting parties.

Moreover, responding to Aaditya Thackeray's criticism of the government's decision on the pagdi system, DyCM Shinde today said, "Those living under the pagdi system are common people, not builders. Those who always speak the builder's language, what can I say to them? I'll only say this - this is a historic decision. We have resolved long-pending issues of Mumbaikars."

Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Thursday announced that a separate regulatory framework will be created to free Mumbai from the pagdi system in the Legislative Assembly and to ensure fair and proper redevelopment of pagdi buildings, a press release from the CM's Secretariat said. Deputy CM Shinde also stated that the rights of both tenants and landlords will be protected.

Moreover, the DyCM extended birthday greetings to the Nationalist Congress Party (SP) chief, Sharad Pawar. "I extend my birthday wishes to Sharad Pawar," Shinde said. (ANI)