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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.

Metro Mayhem

Updated: Feb 27, 2025

The ongoing battle between Systra, the French engineering firm, and Mumbai’s Metro authority, the MMRDA is an indictment of India’s infrastructure governance, exposing how megaprojects are often ensnared in allegations of corruption, bureaucratic maneuvering and diplomatic friction. At stake is not just the fate of one consultancy contract but Mumbai’s ambitious metro expansion and India’s reputation as a credible destination for foreign investment in infrastructure.


What makes the case explosive is Systra’s allegations against senior MMRDA officials who reportedly demanded undue favours, delayed payments and pressured the firm to inflate contractor orders. Systra has even sought diplomatic intervention, with the French embassy stepping in to urge the Maharashtra government to resolve the dispute.


The firm also alleges that similar methods have been used against DB E&C, a German consultancy, which raises uncomfortable questions about how MMRDA deals with foreign firms. If true, the allegations paint a troubling picture of how major infrastructure projects are managed in India’s financial capital.


The MMRDA has retaliated with its own set of accusations. It claims that Systra violated Indian laws, breached contract confidentiality, engaged unauthorized personnel and made engineering and design errors. The agency’s 27-page report to the Maharashtra government outlines multiple deficiencies, extending beyond mere cost overruns. Yet, this counter-offensive does little to mask the glaring governance issues at play. If Systra was so grossly incompetent, why was its contract extended in the first place?


The case exposes a broader malaise in India’s infrastructure sector. The country’s rapid urbanization demands world-class transit solutions, yet project execution is often marred by bureaucratic inefficiency and vested interests. International firms bring technical expertise and global best practices, but navigating India’s often murky procurement and execution processes can be a test of endurance. If credible foreign players like Systra and DB E&C are mistreated, global confidence in India’s infrastructure market will take a hit.


Corruption allegations in large-scale urban transport projects are hardly new. Across India, metro rail contracts have long been fertile ground for rent-seeking. The larger concern is how such controversies affect India’s attractiveness to foreign firms. For Maharashtra’s government, this scandal is a headache it can ill afford. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has promised transparency, but words will not suffice. The inquiry into MMRDA’s conduct must be swift and impartial. If corruption is found, heads should roll. Likewise, if Systra is indeed guilty of contractual breaches, due process must be followed without vindictiveness. The state’s reputation, and Mumbai’s urban future, depends on how this debacle is resolved.


An obvious lesson for India here is that if it aspires to be a global economic powerhouse, its governance of megaprojects must be above board. Infrastructure-driven economy cannot thrive on shadowy dealings and arbitrary decisions. Otherwise, India risks driving away the very expertise it needs to build its future.

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