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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.

NCP (SP) takes a gamble with young, new faces

Updated: Oct 30, 2024

FRESH FACES AND A LACK OF HEAVYWEIGHTS TO DECIDE FUTURE


NCP

Mumbai: As the election approaches, the NCP (SP) is taking a bold risk by introducing a slate of fresh, youthful candidates driven by a need for new leadership, caste considerations, and an absence of political heavyweights. This strategy signifies a significant departure from traditional candidate selection, illustrating the party’s commitment to evolving alongside its electorate.


One notable newcomer is Fahad Ahmad, actor Swara Bhaskar’s husband and an impassioned politician known for his stirring speeches during the anti-CAA protests. He is set to contest against Nawab Mallik’s daughter in the Muslim-dominated Anushakti Nagar constituency. Until a few days ago, Ahmad was a member of the Samajwadi Party. His induction and nomination has left some party workers perplexed. However, the NCP (SP) views this as a necessary gamble, particularly in a political landscape where many prominent figures have left the party.


A few hundred kilometers away, in Baramati, where most candidates privately concede defeat even before polling, the young Yugendra Pawar will make his political debut against his uncle and senior politician Ajit Pawar. In Mohol, the party has picked the 26-year-old Siddhi Kadam whose MLA father Ramesh Kadam was jailed in a case of financial corruption The selection of these candidates has raised eyebrows among observers and constituents alike, showcasing a blend of both risk and opportunity. “Politics is changing; you don’t need heavyweights to win elections. Our party had declared that we would give tickets to new faces because we want to grow and cultivate new talent. These young faces are a reflection of our society and what people want—these candidates are young, dynamic and agile,” says Anish Gawande, national spokesperson of the NCP(SP).


The NCP (SP) also has its sights set on Tasgaon Kavthe Mahankal, where Rohit Patil, son of the late former home minister R R Patil, stands as a promising candidate, buoyed by his father’s legacy and grassroots involvement.


With 21 per cent of voters under the age of 30, the party’s shift towards youthful representation could prove to be a winning strategy in the coming election.

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