Maharashtra 2029 polls: Sanjay Shirsat says BJP, Sena free to fight separately

Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Shirsat said the BJP and the Shinde-led Shiv Sena are free to contest the 2029 Maharashtra assembly election separately.

The remarks, reported on May 2, came as Shirsat responded to claims in Saamana about the BJP’s future election strategy. He said there was nothing preventing the two allies from going solo if they wanted to strengthen their own organisations.

According to The Indian Express, Shirsat said the BJP can fight on its own in 2029 and that the same applies to the Shiv Sena. Lokmat carried a Marathi report later the same day quoting the same basic message.

The comments matter because they point to the flexibility still present in Maharashtra’s shifting alliance politics, even though the BJP and the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena are currently aligned.

For now, the statement appears to reflect Shirsat’s view rather than any formal announcement from the parties. It is not yet clear whether the BJP will respond directly or whether the remark signals a broader change in strategy.

The 2029 election remains years away, but the comments add to the early speculation around how Maharashtra’s main political players may position themselves before the next state vote.