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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.

Power Player Faces a Crucial Test

Updated: Nov 7, 2024

Devendra Fadnavis

When the story of Maharashtra’s political landscape is written, one name besides Sharad Pawar that will be prominently featured is Devendra Fadnavis.


Known as “Deva Bhau” among his supporters in Nagpur and across Maharashtra, Fadnavis remains a figure of both admiration and criticism. As Chief Minister from 2014 to 2019, he became one of the most beloved leaders, yet in the years since, particularly on social media, he has drawn significant backlash.


Comparisons with political veteran Sharad Pawar are inevitable, but Fadnavis stands out as Maharashtra’s only Chief Minister in recent history to have served a full five-year term. This achievement is attributed to his sharp political acumen, strong connection with the party cadre, and an effective rapport with the state bureaucracy.


After the 2019 elections, despite the BJP-Shiv Sena alliance securing a mandate, political differences prevented them from forming a government. However, since then, not a single MLA has defected from Fadnavis’s side, nor have serious allegations been raised against him, underscoring his resilience and the loyalty he inspires. As Maharashtra gears up for the 2024 elections, all eyes are on Fadnavis, a man the party leadership believes can turn the tide, particularly with RSS backing.


The stakes this time are high for both Fadnavis and his opposition, including Sharad Pawar. With the BJP’s reliance on its allies – Eknath Shinde’s Shiv Sena faction and Ajit Pawar’s NCP faction – Fadnavis has publicly acknowledged the need for unified efforts to secure power. However, the Pawar factor looms large.


Sharad Pawar has strategically fielded strong candidates, making it clear he is focusing on individual party wins. This move indicates that Ajit Pawar’s faction may not significantly impact Pawar’s influence.


The BJP faces a challenging electoral battle. Direct contests with Congress are anticipated to be tough, given the consolidation of Dalit-Muslim votes and the potential split of Maratha and OBC votes. Fadnavis’s strategy appears focused on drawing votes away from the UBT faction (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray’s Shiv Sena), with support from the Shinde faction and Raj Thackeray’s MNS. If this vote-splitting strategy works, Fadnavis could edge closer to power.


A key challenge for Fadnavis lies in retaining Maratha support, especially amid the rising influence of Manoj Jarange Patil. Patil’s vocal demands for Maratha reservation have garnered widespread backing within the community, presenting a roadblock for Fadnavis. While Fadnavis has advocated for Maratha reservation, legal hurdles have prevented progress, and he now faces criticism from Patil and others.


For Fadnavis, the elections are nothing short of an agnipariksha (trial by fire), as he navigates alliances, community expectations, and fierce competition.

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