Mumbai: The municipal corporation elections in Maharashtra that will be held today will be a turning point in state politics, Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan said on Wednesday.

"The elections will be a turning point. They will see communal parties like Shiv Sena losing their relevance," he told reporters at his official residence 'Varsha'.

Asked about the response to rallies addressed by Sena and Maharashtra Navnirman Sena leaders, Mr Chavan said the crowds would not translate into votes.

To a query on the war of words between Congress minister Narayan Rane and NCP's Ajit Pawar, Mr Chavan said the bitterness expressed by them was a reaction to local incidents and was not a tectonic shift in relationship between the ruling alliance partners.

The Chief Minister also expressed disappointment over Samajwadi Party's role in these polls.

"The role of SP is negative. I suspect there may be underhand understanding between SP and Shiv Sena. The SP is dividing the secular vote. The fight in these polls will be a UPA versus NDA fight," he said.

Mr Chavan said the Rs one crore cash haul in Amravati was party fund meant for Congress candidates.

"We need to have a more defined way of how party funds are collected," he said.

Tags: BMC, BMC elections, Mumbai civic polls, Mumbai municipal elections, Prithviraj Chavan