Thackeray Brothers Unite After 20 Years for BMC Polls; BJP Faces Heat

• Uddhav and Raj Thackeray to hold joint rallies for BMC elections after 20 years, starting January 2, 2026.
• BJP withdrew Pooja More Jadhav's candidature in Pune due to controversial old videos against CM Devendra Fadnavis.
• Congress MLA Aslam Sheikh urged voters to prioritize development and capable leadership over caste in Mumbai.
• Sanjay Raut criticized Eknath Shinde's faction for 'bowing' to BJP in seat-sharing for local body elections.
• Elections for 29 municipal corporations, including Mumbai, Pune, Pimpri-Chinchwad, on January 15, counting on January 16.

Why It Matters: Maharashtra politics heats up with Thackeray brothers' reunion and intense local body election battles.