Sanjay Raut urges Congress to unite in opposition to BJP in Mumbai civic polls

Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut on Thursday (October 23, 2025) referred to as for Opposition events to shut ranks forward of the upcoming Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections, stressing that the battle isn’t just electoral however about safeguarding Mumbai and democratic values. 

His remarks got here after Congress MLC Bhai Jagtap declared that the get together would contest the civic polls independently, ruling out any alliance with Shiv Sena (UBT) or Raj Thackeray’s Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS). 

Mr. Raut stated that if discussions on a pre-poll alliance had been wanted, they might be held with the Congress’ nationwide management, not state leaders. “This is about defeating the BJP and saving Mumbai,” he instructed reporters, warning of an “impending hazard” to the town. 

Invoking the historic Samyukta Maharashtra motion, he reminded Congress leaders that events as soon as united to guard Mumbai’s id. “Congress is a key companion within the INDIA bloc and the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA). These alliances are collective efforts, not depending on one get together,” he stated. 

The Rajya Sabha MP urged the Congress’ Marathi management to rethink its stance, including that Marathi voters would welcome a united Opposition. “If some events select a distinct course for the BMC or native elections, that’s their prerogative. We is not going to make any assertion that would jeopardize our alliance. Raj Thackeray leads an unbiased get together, and our mission is obvious, defeat the BJP and cease Mumbai from slipping into the clutches of the Adani group,” Mr. Raut stated.  

He additionally took a swipe at Congress, claiming the INDIA bloc was shaped to make Rahul Gandhi the Prime Minister. “If we have to focus on alliances, we are going to converse to Rahul Gandhi, Mallikarjun Kharge, Ok.C. Venugopal, and Ramesh Chennithala. So far, no talks have occurred with them on this difficulty,” he clarified. 

He additionally referred to the continued seat-sharing tussle inside the Mahagathbandhan in Bihar, the place Congress and the RJD are contesting in opposition to one another in a number of constituencies. Taking a swipe, Mr. Raut requested whether or not there was a frontrunner like Raj or Uddhav Thackeray in that state to carry the alliance collectively. 

Currently, the MVA in Maharashtra contains the Congress, Shiv Sena (UBT), and NCP (SP).