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By:

Abhijit Mulye

21 August 2024 at 11:29:11 am

Shinde dilutes demand

Likely to be content with Deputy Mayor’s post in Mumbai Mumbai: In a decisive shift that redraws the power dynamics of Maharashtra’s urban politics, the standoff over the prestigious Mumbai Mayor’s post has ended with a strategic compromise. Following days of resort politics and intense backroom negotiations, the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena has reportedly diluted its demand for the top job in the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), settling instead for the Deputy Mayor’s post. This...

Shinde dilutes demand

Likely to be content with Deputy Mayor’s post in Mumbai Mumbai: In a decisive shift that redraws the power dynamics of Maharashtra’s urban politics, the standoff over the prestigious Mumbai Mayor’s post has ended with a strategic compromise. Following days of resort politics and intense backroom negotiations, the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena has reportedly diluted its demand for the top job in the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), settling instead for the Deputy Mayor’s post. This development, confirmed by high-ranking party insiders, follows the realization that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) effectively ceded its claims on the Kalyan-Dombivali Municipal Corporation (KDMC) to protect the alliance, facilitating a “Mumbai for BJP, Kalyan for Shinde” power-sharing formula. The compromise marks a complete role reversal between the BJP and the Shiv Sena. Both the political parties were in alliance with each other for over 25 years before 2017 civic polls. Back then the BJP used to get the post of Deputy Mayor while the Shiv Sena always enjoyed the mayor’s position. In 2017 a surging BJP (82 seats) had paused its aggression to support the undivided Shiv Sena (84 seats), preferring to be out of power in the Corporation to keep the saffron alliance intact. Today, the numbers dictate a different reality. In the recently concluded elections BJP emerged as the single largest party in Mumbai with 89 seats, while the Shinde faction secured 29. Although the Shinde faction acted as the “kingmaker”—pushing the alliance past the majority mark of 114—the sheer numerical gap made their claim to the mayor’s post untenable in the long run. KDMC Factor The catalyst for this truce lies 40 kilometers north of Mumbai in Kalyan-Dombivali, a region considered the impregnable fortress of Eknath Shinde and his son, MP Shrikant Shinde. While the BJP performed exceptionally well in KDMC, winning 50 seats compared to the Shinde faction’s 53, the lotter for the reservation of mayor’s post in KDMC turned the tables decisively in favor of Shiv Sena there. In the lottery, the KDMC mayor’ post went to be reserved for the Scheduled Tribe candidate. The BJP doesn’t have any such candidate among elected corporatros in KDMC. This cleared the way for Shiv Sena. Also, the Shiv Sena tied hands with the MNS in the corporation effectively weakening the Shiv Sena (UBT)’s alliance with them. Party insiders suggest that once it became clear the BJP would not pursue the KDMC Mayor’s chair—effectively acknowledging it as Shinde’s fiefdom—he agreed to scale down his demands in the capital. “We have practically no hope of installing a BJP Mayor in Kalyan-Dombivali without shattering the alliance locally,” a Mumbai BJP secretary admitted and added, “Letting the KDMC become Shinde’s home turf is the price for securing the Mumbai Mayor’s bungalow for a BJP corporator for the first time in history.” The formal elections for the Mayoral posts are scheduled for later this month. While the opposition Maharashtra Vikas Aghadi (MVA)—led by the Shiv Sena (UBT)—has vowed to field candidates, the arithmetic heavily favors the ruling alliance. For Eknath Shinde, accepting the Deputy Mayor’s post in Mumbai is a tactical retreat. It allows him to consolidate his power in the MMR belt (Thane and Kalyan) while remaining a partner in Mumbai’s governance. For the BJP, this is a crowning moment; after playing second fiddle in the BMC for decades, they are poised to finally install their own “First Citizen” of Mumbai.

Become a dollar puppet or wither in silence: Kunal Kamra

  • PTI
  • Apr 1, 2025
  • 2 min read

New Delhi/Mumbai: Comedian Kunal Kamra on Tuesday shared a five-point post on X titled "How to Kill an Artist: A Step-by-Step Guide" in which he criticised the violent outrage against his recent show and said artists can either sell their soul or wither in silence.


Kamra's video "Naya Bharat", released on his YouTube channel last week, led to massive political controversy over his traitor comment seen to be against Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde. Shiv Sainiks destroyed the venue where Kamra shot the comedy show. The stand-up comic faces three FIRs in Mumbai and is currently in Tamil Nadu.


On Tuesday, he put out a post slamming the way he is being hounded by authorities.


"'How to Kill an Artist: A Step-by-Step Guide'


1) Outrage - just enough for brands to stop commissioning their work.


2) Outrage more- until private and corporate gigs dry up


3) Outrage louder -so big venues won't take risk.


4) Outrage violently - until even the smallest spaces shut their doors


5) Summon their audience for questioning - turning art into a crime scene," he posted on X.


According to Kamra, an artist is left with only two choices under such circumstances. "Sell their soul and become a dollar puppet or wither in silence. This isn't just a playbook, it's a political weapon. A silencing machine," he wrote.


There were reports that audience members who attended Kamra's show were sent notice to appear before the police. However, a police official denied that this was so.


"This is wrong information," the official told PTI.


Kamra, known for his anti-establishment views, has refused to apologise for his over 40-minute video that has garnered over 11 million views on YouTube.


The comedian failed to appear before Khar police in the case registered against him. On Monday, a team went to his Mahim home to check his availability.


The comedian later took a jibe at the police saying the visit was a waste of time and public resources as he had not been living there for the past 10 years.


In a post on X, Kamra said, "Going to an address where I haven't lived for the last 10 years is a waste of your time & public resources."


Kamra was supposed to appear before Khar police during the day, an official said, adding that it was the second time he was summoned.


Last week, three FIRs against him -- at Nashik Rural, Jalgaon and Nashik (Nandgaon) -- were transferred to Khar police station where a case has already been registered on the complaint of Shiv Sena MLA Murji Patel.

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