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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.

New govt formation delayed as Sena insists on CM post for Shinde

Updated: Nov 29, 2024

Shinde

Mumbai: The formation of a new government in Maharashtra, which appeared likely immediately after the BJP-led coalition won a thumping majority in the assembly elections, is delayed due to Shiv Sena's insistence that Eknath Shinde continue as the chief minister, sources said on Monday.


After the November 20 elections results were out on Saturday, there was talk that the new CM may be sworn in as early as Monday but that has not happened, apparently due to the ruling Mahayuti not reaching a consensus on who will be the next CM, the sources said.


Shiv Sena spokesperson Naresh Mhaske cited the Bihar model to assert that Shinde should continue as the chief minister.


However, BJP MLC Pravin Darekar batted for Devendra Fadnavis for the CM's post, saying the deputy chief minister is the most capable candidate to lead the state.


"We feel Shinde should be the chief minister, just like in Bihar where BJP did not look at the numbers but still made JD(U) leader Nitish Kumar the CM. Senior leaders of the Mahayuti (in Maharashtra) will ultimately take a decision," Mhaske told reporters on Monday.


"The election in Maharashtra was contested under the leadership of Shinde, Fadnavis and Ajit Pawar. This shows that the alliance's leadership should be respected," he said.


BJP leader and former Union minister Raosaheb Danve said the party would soon hold a meeting of its legislators.


"The NCP chose Ajit Pawar (as its leader in the assembly), and so has Shiv Sena (chosen Shinde as its leader). The BJP will soon call a meeting of its legislators. It is obvious that the BJP wants the CM's post," Danve said.

The final decision would be communicated to the central leadership after the party's internal discussions, he added.


Fadnavis on Saturday denied any dispute over the CM's post, saying leaders of the Mahayuti will decide on the issue together.


Meanwhile, a legislature official dismissed reports that the President's Rule may come into force if a new government is not in place by November 26, when the tenure of the14th state assembly ends.


In fact, with the officials of the Election Commission of India submitting copies of the gazette with names of the newly-elected members of the state legislative assembly to Maharashtra Governor C P Radhakrishnan on Sunday, the 15th assembly is already in place, an official said.


As per Section 73 of the Representation of the People Act about the publication of results of the state assembly, “after submission of the notification of the names of the members elected, it shall be deemed that the House has been duly constituted,” the official said.


Show of strength to consolidate claim

By Swapnil R Mishra


Mumbai: The suspense over who will take charge as the chief minister of Maharashtra is likely to be over soon, as chances of Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis being replaced by current CM Eknath Shinde, while Ajit Pawar continues to be DCM.


However, this decision has been taken positively by the CM Shinde-led Shiv Sena factions stating that the scheme, which Shinde has hailed as his ‘brainchild’, is being credited as a key factor behind the alliance's electoral success.


On Monday, beneficiaries of the Ladki Bahin Yojana gathered at the Chief Minister's Varsha bungalow in Mumbai, performing aarti and expressing their support for Shinde to continue as the state's leader.

The show of solidarity continues, with hundreds of patients who benefited from the Chief Minister's Medical Assistance Fund set to offer mass prayers at the Siddhivinayak Temple in Mumbai.


Additionally, posters have emerged across Mumbai and Thane, portraying Shinde as the face of the victorious Mahayuti, under whose leadership the alliance triumphed in the polls.


However, sources are claiming that Shinde who was hoping to be retained as CM is likely to be made the deputy CM along with Pawar. While Shinde was negotiating with the BJP over the last 36 hours, a source said the Sena might land up with around 12 ministerial berths and be given some key portfolios. The NCP is also said to end up with around 10 ministerial berths.


The maximum permissible limit for the Council of Ministers in Maharashtra is 43, including the CM. The BJP, which has 132 MLAs, is likely to keep 21 ministerial berths for itself.


The source said the top four portfolios of Home, Finance, Urban Development and Revenue that the BJP was keen on retaining would now be shared with the alliance partners. The BJP may insist on home and finance, according to the BJP insiders. However, some last-minute negotiations on the number of ministerial berths and portfolios were continuing, according to sources.


Meanwhile, pressure within the BJP to restore Devendra Fadnavis as Chief Minister is intensifying. Party workers credit the BJP's impressive showing in the elections-where the alliance secured 235 seats-to Fadnavis's organisational prowess.


However, Fadnavis’ Brahmin identity could also be a factor in deciding the CM face. In this case, he could lose to Maratha leader Shinde. While Marathas comprise 30 per cent of the state’s population, Brahmins account for around 10 per cent.


“Shinde has emerged as a good leaders in the last 2.5 years and also a decision maker due to which he is reluctant to leave the CM post, arguing that his continuance in the top job could benefit Mahayuti in the upcoming local body polls, including the key Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections,” said sources.


Even if the BJP goes ahead with Fadnavis as the CM face, upsetting Shiv Sena, the party has the mandate to do so. It only needs the support of one of its allies to form the government.

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