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...

min read

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.

Jarange moots ‘CMP’ among Marathas, Dalits, Muslims

Correspondent
Nov 1, 2024
2 min read

Mumbai: The Maratha quota activist Manoj Jarange-Patil has thrown his hat in to the ring and has swung into action for an experiment of social engineering. On Thursday several Dalit and Muslim leaders met Jarange in Antarwali Sarati in Jalna district and announced their commitment to formulate a “common minimum programme” for the November 20 Assembly polls.

The Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) leader Mayawati successfully executed the social engineering in Uttar Pradesh and managed to get the power defeating both BJP and Samajwadi Party.

She had ruled the state during 2007-2012 with the support of Brahmins. She had then sought to project the BSP as a party of “Sarvjans (all people)” rather than just of “Bahujans (deprived sections)”. Her social engineering then involved the support of the Brahmin community coupled with her core support base in the form of SC voters.

Islamic scholar Sajjad Nomani, Dalit leaders Rajratna and Anandraj Ambedkar were present at the gathering. During the meeting it was unanimously decided to create a united front for the Maharashtra assembly elections. They have also decided a ‘common minimum programme’ to challenge established power and prevent divisions within their communities.

Speaking at a gathering, Jarange emphasized the importance of solidarity among Dalit, Muslim, and Maratha communities to dismantle entrenched power dynamics. He urged supporters to back candidates supportive of this united cause.

Islamic scholar Sajjad Nomani criticized the BJP for its divisive politics and highlighted the necessity of maintaining a unified front to prevent vote splitting. Dalit leaders Rajratna and Anandraj Ambedkar echoed these sentiments, stressing that their collective efforts serve as an example for the entire country.

This significant political development raised many eyebrows in the corridors of power. So far no party has reacted to this development but most of them have kept a close eye on it. On November 3, Jarange is all set to announce the names of some of the candidates.

Will this experiment succeed is still unclear however, Jarange has once again forced all the parties to take his cognisance.

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