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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.

Great Expectations

The Mahayuti coalition’s resounding victory in Maharashtra’s Assembly elections, securing nearly 240 of the 288 seats, marks a momentous comeback in the state’s political history. But with great victories come even greater expectations. The people of Maharashtra now demand not just governance but transformative leadership.


The alliance effectively unified disparate voter bases—OBCs, Marathas, and women—through a targeted narrative of welfare and development. Schemes like the Majhi Ladki Bahin Yojana, offering Rs. 1,500 monthly assistance to women, resonated deeply, especially among the economically disadvantaged, creating a groundswell of support. Moreover, the coalition’s focus on rural infrastructure, exemplified by the construction of over 45,000 agricultural roads, showcased a commitment to improving farmer livelihoods. These efforts were bolstered by significant budgetary allocations to infrastructure.


While the electoral victory is monumental, governing a state as diverse and complex as Maharashtra demands more than campaign promises. Expectations are high across key areas like employment and social welfare. The promise of 2.5 million new jobs statewide and monthly stipends for vocational students has created hope among the youth. The government must now ensure that these pledges translate into measurable outcomes, particularly as economic challenges loom, including inflation and uneven industrial growth.


The coalition’s pledge to reduce electricity bills by 30 percent and expand renewable energy sources represents an ambitious agenda. The recent 6,600 MW power deal with Adani Power and Adani Green Energy underscores this commitment, but the government must ensure that such large-scale agreements translate into tangible relief for consumers. Rural voters will scrutinise the government’s ability to deliver long-term benefits. Beyond road construction, farmers need better access to markets, price stabilisation mechanisms and water resource management. The coalition’s focus on women and socially disadvantaged groups through increased wages for Anganwadi and ASHA workers and the continuation of the Maratha Reservation Act has set high expectations.


Devendra Fadnavis, with his deft political manoeuvring, remains the coalition’s cornerstone. Eknath Shinde has emerged as the undisputed leader of the Shiv Sena, while Ajit Pawar’s performance in Baramati has solidified his status as a rival to his uncle, Sharad Pawar. The leadership trio must now navigate the intricate dynamics within the alliance to maintain unity and focus on governance. Maharashtra’s electorate has handed the Mahayuti an unprecedented mandate. Delivering on promises, while setting the state on a path of sustainable growth, will determine whether this victory becomes a historical milestone or a footnote. Maharashtra has spoken decisively. Now, it is the new government’s turn to prove that its promises were not mere election rhetoric but a blueprint for a brighter future.

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