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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.

‘Narendra Modi is the real face of the elections’

Updated: Nov 18, 2024

Yamini Jadhav

Mumbai: The Shiv Sena has once again nominated MLA Yamini Jadhav, the wife of former BMC Standing Committee Chairman Yashwant Jadhav, for the Byculla constituency. She had won the seat in 2019 for the first time for her party. However, a defeat in the 2024 Lok Sabha election looms uncertainty over his prospectus. In an interview, Jadhav talked about the issues in her constituency. Excerpts…


Q. What is the main issue you are addressing?

A. The most important concern in this area is finding affordable homes. The renovation of ancient and dilapidated structures is a major concern. There is also a need to rehabilitate slums located on central government territory, such as those owned by the Mumbai Port Authority (MPA) and the National Textile Corporation. Furthermore, both cessed and non-cessed buildings in South Mumbai require immediate reconstruction and restoration. I’ve also discussed the importance of having an office and providing amenities for coastal patrol. Furthermore, I would advocate for a single-window system to simplify the process of getting approvals and No Objection Certificates (NOCs) from the MPA for repair work on structures on their property, as well as providing necessary amenities. Cluster redevelopment also presents a hurdle.


Q. You have also been addressing issues related to women. What is the new demand?

A. I have demanded that the government give women at least 10 biodegradable sanitary pads each month for Re 1 each. Policewomen are currently allowed to wear sarees only after 16 weeks of pregnancy. I have insisted that they be permitted to wear a saree uniform from the start of their pregnancy, as they are unable to wear heavy belts or trousers.


Q. The issue of giving the Richardson and Cruddas land to JJ Hospital is also pending

A. Previously, no MLA took up this subject, hence it has been pending. I will prioritise this issue. Once this site is transferred, we intend to establish a super-specialty facility as an extension of JJ Hospital. We aim to establish an oncology centre here, as well as modern housing for JJ Hospital doctors and other workers. I’ve also been advocating for a sports complex on a portion of the Mafatlal Mill site in Byculla. I’m also aiming to open a drug addiction and rehabilitation clinic at JJ Hospital.


Q. How are you going to counter the sympathy wave for Shiv Sena (UBT)?

A. When an incident occurs, people are sympathetic at first, but then they move on. So, the sympathy has subsided. I am going to the people with my work and performance, as well as that of the Shinde and Modi governments. I am merely a technical candidate, and PM Narendra Modi is the real face of the elections.


Q. This time the minority vote is said to be swinging to the MVA.

A. This is not accurate. I’ve worked extensively for Byculla’s minority community. Even the Shinde government has implemented several new policies for the minority population and allocated funding to them through various schemes that are influencing their lives.

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