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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.

Overdue Praise

Updated: Oct 21, 2024

In a city that never sleeps, with a population of over 20 million, the Mumbai police face a Sisyphean task. Yet, during the recent Ganesh Chaturthi celebrations, they once again demonstrated their remarkable ability to balance order with tradition, ensuring a peaceful end to one of the country’s most widely celebrated festivals.

Ganesh Chaturthi is not merely a religious festival but also a logistical nightmare. Millions of devotees flood the streets, throwing traffic off-kilter as massive idols are paraded through the city to the Arabian Sea. The city’s overstretched and underpaid police force must ensure public safety, regulate traffic and monitor the ever-present threat of terrorist activity in a metropolis that has seen its fair share of attacks. Yet, year after year, the festival concludes with minimal incident. This year was no different, with 24,000 thousand personnel deployed to oversee the Visarjan.

What makes the police’s performance even more impressive is the scale of their operation despite being hamstrung by a woefully inadequate force of barely 50,000 police officers. Not just festivals, but Mumbai’s police have to cope with increasing crime and social unrest. In comparison, New York City, with a population of around 8 million, has over 36,000 officers. The ratio of police to citizens in Mumbai is a stark reminder of how little the force has to work with.

Despite this, the Mumbai police regularly pull off large-scale operations. The coordination required is staggering. But while they toil behind the scenes, they are often lambasted in public discourse as corrupt and incompetent.

The vast majority of officers work tirelessly in harsh conditions often without proper breaks, working in congested areas where pollution and stress are constant companions. In 2022, the Maharashtra government recorded over 1,000 cases of illness and mental health problems among police officers, a reflection of the strain under which they operate.

Moreover, the public’s lack of faith in the police is partly fuelled by media portrayals. Bollywood films routinely depict police officers as either incompetent or corrupt, reinforcing negative stereotypes. In reality, many Mumbai police officers exhibit remarkable professionalism, particularly in high-pressure situations. The handling of the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks showcased the bravery of the police force in responding to an unprecedented crisis. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Mumbai’s police were lauded for their efforts in enforcing lockdowns and distributing food. The challenges faced by the Mumbai police are manifold. They contend with a demoralising lack of resources — lack of patrol cars, decrepit station infrastructure and outdated crime-fighting technology. But despite this, the police have shown incredible adaptability.

It is time to recognise that for every negative headline, there are untold stories of dedication and quiet professionalism. Rather than vilify them, we must understand the conditions they work under and the enormity of their task. If Mumbai is to continue as India’s financial capital and cultural heart, its police force will need more than just our thanks — they will need the resources, reform, and respect they so rightly deserve.

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