top of page

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.

Under The Shadow of Tainted Image

Updated: Oct 30, 2024

Aaditya Thackeray

Past two and a half years had been the toughest time for the Thackeray family after the rebellion within the party and Uddhav had to resign as Chief Minister in June 2022. Aaditya Thackeray showed great resilience in the assembly as well as on the streets of Mumbai during this period and effectively attacked and exposed the state government, which he calls an ‘illegal government’. Now that when the elections are less than a month away, whether he will be able to show the toughness necessary to save his party is a big question.


Aaditya not just carries the legacy of his forefathers but also speaks of changing the face of the politics. He implemented some impressive ideas as a minister under his father. He cares for the environment, for animals, for health of people. This concern was seen in his actions like his insistence on open gyms at Marine Drive or the huge expenditure incurred on bringing penguins to the zoo in Mumbai. However, he received more criticism than praises for such actions.


His political journey reflects a blend of youthful energy and a commitment to his party’s legacy. His focus on environmental issues and sustainable development continues to shape his political agenda. However, on the other said that he hardly seems to have any connect with the common people, even the voters of his party, and survives only on the image of his forefathers and swanky ideas about environment which hardly resonate with the traditional voters of his party.


Aaditya, 34, completed his schooling at Bombay Scottish School at Mahim and later graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in History from St. Xavier’s College. He also holds a law degree from KC Law College, Mumbai. He also has keen interest in literature and poetry. He has published a book of poems titled “My Thoughts in White and Black” and a music album “Ummeed”.


He had been involved in party affairs even before 2010 when he was appointed as the President of the Yuva Sena, the youth wing of the party. In 2019, he became the first member of his family to contest and win an election. As an MLA from the Worli constituency, he symbolized the generational shift in the party’s leadership.


Under his father Aaditya held several key ministerial positions in Maharashtra government and served as the Cabinet Minister for Tourism and Environment from 2019 to 2022. While much of that period was lost in COVID, it also saw his name being linked to several cases including deaths of actor Sushantisingh Rajput and Disha Salian. He and his father are also blamed for delay in crucial infrastructure project like the Mumbai Underground Metro line. His image of an ‘anti-development’ politician is a biggest challenge for him to overcome.

Comments

bottom of page