United Opposition: Sena (UBT) merges with Cong-led MVA in NMC

Nagpur: With the BJP continuing to dominate the Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) with a brute majority, the city's opposition on Tuesday attempted to regroup politically, with the Shiv Sena (UBT) formally merging its municipal party with the Congress-led Maha Vikas Aghadi in Nagpur. The move aims to present a united and coordinated opposition to the ruling dispensation's policies and civic governance.The merger was driven by a stated resolve to expose administrative lapses, question policy decisions affecting citizens, and raise long-pending civic issues both inside and outside the House. Opposition leaders said the consolidation would ensure a more assertive and coordinated approach in highlighting failures related to basic services and governance in the city.The decision was finalised at a joint meeting convened on the initiative of Vikas Thakre, President of the Nagpur City (District) Congress Committee and MLA from West Nagpur. The meeting was attended by Sanjay Mahakalkar, group leader of the Nagpur Maha Vikas Aghadi, and Kishor Kumeria, group leader of Shiv Sena (UBT). Following the meeting, leaders from both parties met divisional commissioner Vijayalakshmi Bidari and formally submitted the merger letter along with the minutes, completing the statutory formalities.With the Shiv Sena (UBT) joining the Congress-led bloc, the strength of the Nagpur Maha Vikas Aghadi in the 151-member civic House rose to 36 corporators—34 from Congress and 2 from Shiv Sena (UBT). However, despite the show of unity, the numerical impact of the merger on the general body remains limited.The BJP continues to enjoy an overwhelming majority with 102 corporators, far above the simple majority mark of 76, giving it an excess strength of 42 members. Other parties in the House include AIMIM with six corporators, Indian Union Labour Muslim League (IULM) with four, NCP (Ajit) with one, and Sena (Shinde) with one corporator.Opposition leaders nonetheless claimed that unity was crucial to mounting sustained pressure on the ruling party. The Aghadi said it would aggressively raise issues related to water supply, rubbish management, road conditions, public health, education, employment, and urban safety, while holding the civic administration accountable.Congress corporator Vivek Nikose, along with several corporators and senior leaders from Congress and Shiv Sena (UBT), was present during the merger announcement.