India, Dec. 27 -- As the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) polls draw closer, a new party has emerged in the election fray, made up of mill workers' groups and Marathi organisations. The Samyukt Maharashtra Aghadi (SMA) with its agenda centred around Marathi rights, announced that it will contest at least 45 seats in the upcoming civic polls.

The new party, formed on December 20, said it will announce the names of candidates for the polls on Monday. SMA leaders added that the Aghadi was not a temporary collective for the civic polls but would continue working for the welfare of the Marathi community even after the elections.

Party leaders said the SMA's agenda centres around the Marathi language, Marathi identity, and the rights ...