Will BVA merge with Sena after Kadu’s Prahar? ‘Offer of MLC seat’ sparks buzz

Chaitanya Marpakwar and Vishal RajemahadikMumbai: Having already roped in former MLA and Prahar Janshakti Party chief Bachchu Kadu by nominating him as an MLC, there was speculation on Tuesday that Dy CM Eknath Shinde’s Shiv Sena had reached out to Bahujan Vikas Aghadi’s (BVA) former MLA Kshitij Thakur with the offer of a legislative council seat from the Thane local bodies’ constituency provided the BVA merges with the Sena.Kadu’s party merged with the Sena recently.BVA chief Hitendra Thakur fuelled the speculation by saying “Aage aage dekho hota hai kya” (See what happens in the days to come) when asked about chances of his party merging with Shinde’s Sena for the MLC berth. Thakur at the same time said ‘horse trading’ time is around the corner and added that NCP (SP) and the Communists and Independents were with the BVA (for the council polls).Currently, the Thane local bodies’ seat is held by Sena’s Ravindra Phatak, but Shinde is looking to expand the party and is said to have rolled out an offer to the BVA chief’s son Kshitij Thakur to replace Phatak. Kshitij was a three-time MLA from Nalasopara, and Sena functionaries said the party would be open to Kshitij coming on board as it will strengthen Sena in the Vasai-Virar-Nalasopara belt.However, the Sena is reportedly keen on BVA merging with it just like Kadu’s Prahar Janshakti Party. However, if the merger doesn’t work out, Phatak will be the Sena’s candidate. Phatak also met Hitendra Thakur to seek votes for his election.Sena functionaries also said Shinde met Union home minister Amit Shah and spoke on the ongoing tussle in Mahayuti over seat distribution for the MLC elections. Shinde had gone to Delhi last weekend on a private plane, and he met Shah on Sunday, Sena functionaries said.Both Kshitij and Hitendra Thakur had lost in the 2024 assembly polls to BJP candidates. The BVA, which earlier had three MLAs (in Nalasopara, Vasai and Boisar), lost all three seats in the 2024 assembly elections to BJP. After this, the party also came down to 71 seats out of 115 in the 2026 Vasai-Virar corporation elections, where it earlier had 106 seats. The BJP also made inroads in the Vasai-Virar civic elections, winning 43 seats, with the Sena getting just one.According to the preliminary Mahayuti formula for the MLC polls from local bodies, the BJP will get the largest chunk of 11 out of 17 seats, and the Shiv Sena and NCP will get three each. Polling will be held on June 18 for the 17 seats where MLCs will be elected by local body representatives across the state.