Shiv Sena (UBT) merges with Congress-led front in NMC

Nagpur: In an expected political realignment within the Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC), the Shiv Sena (UBT) party on Tuesday merged with the Congress-led Nagpur Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA), consolidating the opposition benches and raising its strength to 36 corporators.The decision was taken at a joint meeting convened by the Congress committee leaders with the Uddhav Thackeray-led party. The representatives from both parties later submitted the merger letter and minutes to divisional commissioner Vijayalakshmi Bidari, completing statutory formalities.
With the merger, the Congress-led alliance positioned itself as a consolidated opposition force in the NMC, signalling closer scrutiny of civic decisions and administrative functioning. Leaders said the move aimed to strengthen coordination on issues concerning water supply, waste management, roads, public health, education and employment. They added that discussions were underway with other groups and that further mergers could follow. Earlier in the day, Congress corporators and workers staged a protest at the NMC headquarters, condemning recent action against street hawkers. The protestors alleged that livelihood materials of poor vendors were damaged during civic drives over the past two days. A memorandum was later submitted to municipal commissioner Abhijeet Chaudhari, warning that the Congress-led front would intensify its agitation if similar action continued. The development marked a consolidation of opposition ranks in the civic body at a time when municipal governance and enforcement actions drew increasing political attention, as per political observers.