Sanjay Raut (File photo)
NEW DELHI: Leaders of Shiv Sena (UBT) and the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) met on Sunday to hold alliance talks for the upcoming municipal corporation polls, with Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut later saying the alliance could be officially announced in “two-three days.”Also Read | ‘Sena (UBT) and MNS to ally’: Sanjay Raut on Maharashtra civic polls; tie-up likely in Mumbai, other major cities“These talks, we believe, are the last meeting. In two-three days, there will be an official announcement,” Raut told reporters in Mumbai.The move would bring together estranged cousins Uddhav and Raj Thackeray, who head Sena (UBT) and MNS respectively.The talks coincided with the counting of votes in the Maharashtra local body polls, with early trends pointing to a sweep by the ruling Mahayuti.Also Read | BMC polls: BJP, Shiv Sena reach consensus on 150 electoral wards in Mumbai; final list by Dec 22Meanwhile, Raut noted that efforts were underway to bring the Congress, a Sena (UBT) ally, on board for the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) polls despite its “reservations” over Raj Thackeray.“The Congress has expressed reservations over Raj Thackeray. We tried to convince the Congress that to defeat the BJP, it is necessary to come together. However, efforts are on to convince them,” the Rajya Sabha member stated.Also Read | BMC polls: Congress decides to go solo; Uddhav–Raj bonhomie strains MVAHe added that there would be “no bad blood” between the two parties even if they did not form an alliance in Mumbai. The BMC, the financial capital’s civic body, is the wealthiest municipal corporation in the country. Elections to 29 municipal corporations, including the BMC, will be held on January 15, with vote counting scheduled for the following day.On Saturday, All India Congress Committee general secretary and Maharashtra in-charge Ramesh Chennithala said there was a “strong demand” from party workers to contest the BMC polls independently.“We will fight the polls on issues of common Mumbaikars such as pollution, healthcare and corruption. Mumbaikars should give us a chance to serve them well. The Congress is firm on contesting the polls independently to protect the secular fabric of the metropolis,” Chennithala remarked.(With PTI inputs)