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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.

Pilgrimage Garners Votes

Eknath Shinde

A publicity stunt has become a powerful tool in marketing and brand promotion. They can captivate audiences, generate buzz, and leave a lasting impression. This is what has been happening in Maharashtra for some time now. Schemes are being announced with a large amount of publicity. Atmosphere is created and later the file of the scheme gathers a lot of dust on the racks of Mantralaya.


Recently, the chief minister Eknath Shinde announced ‘Mukhyamantri Teerth Darshan Yojana’, a pilgrimage scheme for senior citizens from all religions. The scheme is aimed at helping the elderly people who are unable to visit the religious sites on their own. For this new pilgrimage scheme, the state government has laid down the rules and regulations and eligibility to ‘Mukhyamantri Tirth Darshan Yojana’. As per these guidelines of this scheme, the senior citizens of poor families will be allowed to go on pilgrimage free of cost for once. GR pertaining to this has been issued.


The government has announced a scheme in the current budget. Chief Minister Shinde announced the full proof plan for the implementation of this Yojana. This will allow senior citizens to visit important pilgrimage sites in the country for free. GR has been issued by the Department of Social Justice. The government has selected 73 Pilgrimage sites over all India and 66 pilgrimage sites of Maharashtra. Almost all-important pilgrimage sites of the country and state have been included. Under this scheme an eligible person will get a one-time benefit of this scheme for one of the designated pilgrimage sites , also the maximum limit for travel expenses will be 30 thousand rupees per person including Accommodation. Annual income of the beneficiary should be 2 lakh 50 thousand. Beneficiary should be a resident of Maharashtra state and a senior citizen.


Online applications have to be submitted to avail the benefits of the scheme. Under the scheme, authorized tourist companies to organize bus travel and Indian Railway for train travel. For other services including hoteling IRCTC equivalent official companies will be selected. The selection of the passengers will be done by the district committee constituted at the district level. Similarly, the quota will be fixed for each district based on the population and the passengers will be selected through lottery based on the availability of applications received.


The government has made it clear that the free pilgrimage scheme is a part of the comprehensive pilgrimage policy for senior citizens from all religions who cannot afford it. The Mukhyamantri Teertha Darshan Yojana aims to enable senior citizens to undertake spiritual journeys with ease and comfort. States like Madhya Pradesh, Jharkhandand, Karnataka, and Union Territories (UTs), such as Delhi, also provide the free pilgrimage facility to holy sites for senior citizens aged 60 and above. Women get a two-year age relaxation. The government offers one-time assistance for this purpose. The scheme is part of a broader effort to support senior citizens socially, spiritually and financially in their respective home states.

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