Union Minister Ramdas Athawale expressed strong displeasure over the Mahayuti alliance's seat-sharing agreement for the Mumbai civic elections, calling the exclusion of his Republican Party of India (Athawale) a "betrayal of trust" and an insult to party workers. The BJP will contest 137 seats and the Shiv Sena 90. Athawale stated his party would support any decision by its workers, with sources indicating RPI(A) may contest up to 50 seats independently. The NCP is also contesting separately.