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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.

Jarange withdraws; Mahayuti jubilant, MVA cautious

Updated: Nov 7, 2024

Jarange

Mumbai: Living up to his reputation Maratha quota activist Manoj Jarange-Patil on Monday took a U-turn that too hours after vowing to take revenge against the BJP-led ruling Mahayuti alliance in Maharashtra. On the day the deadline to withdraw nominations for the Maharashtra Assembly elections ended, this was a bigger withdrawal which virtually created ripples into the political circle.


Jarange broke down at a press conference and made an attempt to create the atmosphere. Then he dramatically made the announcement to withdraw from the election fray. Jarange is an unpredictable man. As per his style of functioning he made this announcement. However, this time around the withdrawal, announced Monday morning, could benefit the opposition Maharashtra Vikas Aghadi (MVA), which had gained from Maratha discontent during the Lok Sabha elections.


Significantly, why Jarange backed out at such a crucial juncture is the question doing the rounds into the political circle. Jarange has repeatedly stated that there was no pressure on him to withdraw from contesting the election. Sources have claimed that some hidden power swung into action on Sunday late night. As a result, Monday morning barely a few hours after his initial announcement on Sunday night he took a backseat.


The BJP, within no time, hailed the move, describing it as sensible, appropriate and healthy for Jarange’s agitation for Maratha reservation. The sources in the party said that the decision by the activist will be a boost for the Mahayuti, and particularly the BJP. The Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has faced the brunt of Jarange-Patil’s frequent hunger strikes and other pressure tactics over the course of the past 15 months. Threatening every time not to withdraw, bringing worried politicians running to his doorsteps, and giving in every time after government promises and to honour the sentiments of the people. So Jarange's move will prove beneficial to the BJP.


The strong Maratha wave managed to dent the ruling Mahayuti’s equity in the last elections; and the question on every one’s mind was that if the activist sticks to his word this time, how it will dent the numbers for the MVA. Also, will the community continue to vote against the Mahayuti? In the last election, the three-party opposition combined managed to win more than eight seats in Marathwada and western Maharashtra backed by Maratha support.


Pravin Gaikwad, chief of Sambhaji Brigade, one of the oldest Maratha organisations, said, “The present situation in the state is so sticky that fielding Maratha candidates could also lead to the reverse polarisation of the OBCs against Maratha candidates. Most of the Congress-NCP (SP) candidates are Marathas and the community has been getting representation of 150 to 180 MLAs in the assembly. As the fight for the assembly polls is fierce, his candidates could ensure the defeat of some MVA candidates.”


“One thing I would like to make clear is that the Maratha community is against fielding candidates or entering into the election fray. Many prominent people from the Maratha community were strongly against this move of Jarange. The names of no prominent leaders feature in the stack of applications Jarange-Patil has received. That shows the community is not in favour of entering the poll arena. Anyway, since he has announced to withdraw from contesting the election, I can say he took the wise decision", Gaikwad added.


Who will benefit?

Political observers believe Jarange’s decision would impact the election’s dynamics, especially for Mahayuti. Some leaders had hoped that Patil’s candidates would split the traditional Maratha, Dalit, and Muslim support base of the MVA. In response to Patil’s decision, veteran MVA leader Sharad Pawar expressed relief, noting, “There is no connection between MVA and Patil’s withdrawal. I am glad he made this decision, as fielding candidates would have benefited BJP.”


Marathwada’s 46 seats and Western Maharashtra’s 70 seats hold significant sway. Jarange’s influence looms large in these regions, making his support highly sought after. A united front of Maratha, Dalit, and Muslim communities under the MVA banner drove anti-BJP sentiment in the last Lok Sabha elections. This sentiment may resurface amid ongoing anti-Muslim rhetoric from some BJP leaders.

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