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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.

Pawar plays mediator, tension in MVA recedes

The Congress and Shiv Sena (UBT) were at loggerheads over 12 seats in Vidarbha and Nashik


Pawar plays mediator, tension in MVA recedes

Mumbai: After much hue and cry throughout the Sunday, the conflict between the Maharashtra Vikas Aghadi (MVA) allies over seat sharing was sorted out when NCP (SP) chief Sharad Pawar swung in the action to mediate. Pawar gave earful to Congress as well as Shiv Sena (BBT) leaders virtually forcing them to sit on a table. A joint press conference is likely to take place on Monday to announce the seat sharing of three parties.


After Saturday’s nine-hour-long marathon meeting at Trident Hotel, the MVA leaders were far ahead from the consensus even on Sunday. The bone of contention was crucial seats in the Vidarbha region. The standoff has intensified, with leaders of the Thackeray faction reportedly approaching the Congress high command in Delhi. The Thackeray faction has called for an emergency meeting at Matoshree, where party chief Uddhav Thackeray discussed the course of action in length.


At the heart of the disagreement was the allocation of crucial seats in regions such as Vidarbha, Mumbai and Nashik. One of the key flashpoints is Nashik West, where the Thackeray faction has been pushing for Sudhakar Badgujar’s candidacy. However, the Congress remains adamant on fielding its candidate. The situation escalated during the late-night meeting, as Congress leader Nana Patole’s insistence on Nashik West reportedly led to a walkout by Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut.


Vidarbha has emerged as another significant battleground during the seat-sharing talks. The Thackeray faction has staked claim on 12 key seats, including prominent constituencies such as Armori, Chimur and Ramtek. These are currently held by either the BJP or independent candidates, and the Thackeray faction argues that as these seats are not currently held by MVA incumbents, our claim is justified. However, the Congress has been unwilling to concede several of these seats.


According to sources, both Congress and Shiv Sena (UBT) leaders directly approached NCP (SP) chief Sharad Pawar to mediate and resolve the differences in the opposition alliance. Shiv Sena (UBT) leaders Anil Parab and Aaditya Thackeray met Pawar at Y.B. Chavan Centre. Senior Congress leaders in Delhi were also in constant touch with Pawar.


Finally, Pawar swung into action and summoned leaders of both Congress and Shiv Sena (UBT) and scolded them. He made them aware of the consequences of the possible split. Sena pleaded that during the Lok Sabha election, their party gave its Ramtek and Amravati seats to the Congress. The party now wants more seats in the Assembly polls as part of the MVA alliance. Shiv Sena (UBT) has claimed a total of 12 seats in the Vidarbha region. The party is arguing that there are no existing MLAs from MVA on these 12 seats. Congress leaders vociferously opposed this demand.

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