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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.

Vermicompost Set up

Updated: Mar 3, 2025

Vermicompost

Hello readers,


In my last article, I had given a brief introduction of earthworms and their ability to eject highly nutriotious excreta which becomes a manure or compost of excellent quality. Before moving further to learn more about vermicompost ‘technology’, let us first understand how earthworms make this excreta. We, the humans have a digestive system which is hollow, and much more complex with very long, compactly coiled intestine, then there is a bag like stomach, liver, pancreas and so on.


In comparison, digestive system of Earthworm is made up of a long, straight hollow tube in the center of its body cavity. Food of earthworms comprise dead and decaying organic material that is mixed in the soil. Earthworm eats lots of soil with its mouth. This soil passes through the tubular digestive tract.


On the way, it is processed in different organs of digestive system by the action of digestive enzymes. In this process, earthworm receives all the nutrients essential for its own growth and overall well-being. The remaining portion of food which is not digested is pushed further till the rear end of the body and is ‘ejected’ out as small ‘pellets’. These are known as ‘vermicasts’ which enrich the soil with many essential micro and macronutrients. This ability of earthworms can be used to process and enrich our kitchen waste with all the essential nutrients. Following is an overview of the process of setting up a vermicompost pit in your society premises.


Construct a suitable pit. using bricks and little cement. The size and dimensions of pit will depend upon the volume of biomass, i.e. your kitchen or garden waste.


Collect the biomass and place it under the sun for about 8-12 days. Now chop it to the required size using the cutter.


Prepare a cow dung slurry and sprinkle it on the heap for quick decomposition. Now, add a layer (2 – 3 inch) of soil or sand at the bottom of the tank.


Next, prepare fine bedding by adding partially decomposed cow dung, dried leaves and other biodegradable wastes collected from garden and kitchen. Distribute them evenly on the sand layer.


  • Continue adding both the chopped bio-waste and partially decomposed cow dung layer-wise into the tank up to a depth of 0.5-1.0 ft.

  • After adding all the bio-wastes, release the earthworm species over the mixture and cover the compost mixture with dry straw or gunny bags.

  • Sprinkle water on a regular basis to maintain the moisture content of the compost.

  • Cover the tank with a thatch roof to prevent the entry of ants, lizards, mouse, snakes, etc. and protect the compost from rainwater and direct sunshine.

  • Have a frequent check to avoid the compost from overheating. Maintain proper moisture and temperature


Earthworms are very sensitive to the changes in pH, temperature, moisture content etc. Any change in these parameters can adversely affect well-being of the worms. All the biodegradable waste you want to use for vermicomposting must be pre-processed as earthworms feed on dead, decaying organic matter. Also never add any oily, spicy, salty food to your vermicompost pit. If you take these precautions, earthworms will stay and keep on producing generations happily. All the best and have a good weekend!


For any guidance and assistance in setting up a vermicompost unit, maintaining it and harvesting the final product in your garden, society premises, please contact-

Paryavaran Dakshata Mandal Dombivali: 9833046634

Paryavaran Dakshata Mandal Thane: 9372358454


(The author is an environmentalist. Views personal.)

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