MNS's Hasty Alliance Backfires in Kalyan-Dombivli, Misses Mayoral Opportunity

• The political landscape in Kalyan-Dombivli Municipal Corporation (KDMC) is in turmoil after the mayoral reservation draw.
• MNS MLA Raju Patil's decision to ally with the Shiv Sena Shinde faction has reportedly cost the MNS the mayoral position.
• The mayoral post is reserved for Scheduled Tribe (ST) category, and MNS has an ST corporator, Sheetal Mandhari.
• Had MNS supported BJP, Sheetal Mandhari could have become mayor, as BJP lacks an ST corporator but has numerical strength.
• Raju Patil's 'hasty' decision to support the Shinde faction, despite rivalry with MP Dr. Shrikant Shinde, is being questioned.

Why It Matters: MNS's quick alliance with the Shinde faction led to missing a key mayoral opportunity in Kalyan-Dombivli.