Union Minister Ramdas Athawale on Tuesday (December 30, 2025) said that his party, RPI(A), was excluded from the seat-sharing deal between the BJP and Shiv Sena for the upcoming Mumbai civic elections, terming their move as "betrayal of trust".
Ruling allies BJP and Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena reached a seat-sharing agreement on Monday (December 29, 2025) to contest 137 and 90 seats, respectively, in the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation polls.
Mumbai civic body polls: BJP to contest 137 BMC seats, Shiv Sena 90; candidates to file nomination papers on Dec. 30
Expressing his displeasure over the exclusion, Mr. Athawale, in a post on X, said, "Since the formation of the Mahayuti, we have stood by the alliance with complete sincerity and firmness. However, what has happened today regarding seat-sharing is nothing but a betrayal of trust." He claimed that a meeting for discussions was scheduled at 4 p.m. on Monday, but the alliance partners had failed to honour the commitment.
Deadline looming, parties rush to name candidates for Maharashtra civic polls
