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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.

Intra-alliance battles catch attention

Mumbai: Mahayuti and Maharashtra Vikas Aghadi (MVA) are going head-to-head in the Assembly Elections making the battle chaotic. Despite official candidates being declared by both the alliances, there is a huge difference of opinions within the alliances even after the date of withdrawal of nomination has surpassed. In several constituencies, the allies have fielded their candidates against each other. Reasons behind this kind of infighting within the alliance could be multiple ranging from independent political aspirations, ego clashes, ideological differences, no will to let go hold over a particular region, political rivalry, so on and so forth. Bottomline is that close to two weeks ahead of the Assembly battle, MVA and Mahayuti have multiple official contenders within their respective alliances.

Here are a few key constituencies that form classic examples explaining the tricky situation.


Intra-alliance battles

Mankhurd-Shivajinagar, Mumbai

Nawab Malik (NCP) vs Suresh Patil (Shiv Sena)

Suresh ‘Bullet’ Patil was the first to bag the ticket. The NCP breached the alliance dharma by fielding Nawab Malik. This constituency also sees three-term incumbent MLA Abu Asim Azmi as a Samajwadi Party candidate supported by the MVA.



Intra-alliance battles

Anushaktinagar, Mumbai

Sana Malik (NCP) vs Tukaram Kate (Shiv Sena)

Sana, daughter of Nawab Malik, was the official Mahayuti candidate. Chief Minister Eknath Shinde fielded Tukaram Kate breaching the alliance’s understanding. Kate had won from this constituency in 2014 but lost to Nawab Malik in 2019.



Intra-alliance battles

Deolali, Nashik

Saroj Ahire (NCP) vs Rajshree Ahirrao (Shiv Sena)

There is a fierce battle between two Mahayuti candidates here. Both are claiming that they deserved the candidature.




Intra-alliance battles

Morshi, Amaravati

Devendra Bhuyar (NCP) vs Umesh Yawalkar (BJP)

An Independent Devendra Bhuyar had clinched victory in 2019 from Morshi. This time, Bhuyar is an official candidate of the NCP. Since the BJP has been traditionally fighting from this seat the party has fielded Umesh Yawalkar against the alliance’s understanding.



Intra-alliance battles

Aashti, Beed

Suresh Dhas (BJP) vs Balasaheb Ajbe (NCP)

The BJP and NCP both are fighting elections from this constituency traditionally. None of them was willing to withdraw. Hence, they are pitted against each other.


Intra-alliance battles

Purandar, Pune

Vijay Shivtare (Shiv Sena) vs Sambhaji Jhende (NCP)

The NCP’s candidature in this constituency is an outcome of its arch rivalry against Vijay Shivtare. Both of them want to settle personal scores in this constituency. In 2019, Congress’ Sanjay Jagtap had won this seat by defeating Purandare.



Sangola, Solapur

Deepak Salunkhe (Shiv Sena, UBT) vs Babasaheb Deshmukh (PWP)

The PWP has been traditionally contesting from this constituency. Babasaheb Deshmukh’s grandfather the late Ganpatrao Deshmukh represented Sangola for record 11 times. His grandson staked his claim but Shiv Sena (UBT) has a different plan.

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