Mumbai: After the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections, the victorious Mahayuti alliance is now embroiled in a fresh political tussle over the prestigious post of Mumbai Mayor.
The BJP emerged as the single-largest party with 89 seats in the 227-member house, while its ally, the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena, secured 29 seats, giving the combine a comfortable majority of 118 — well above the 114 needed.
This decisive win ended nearly three decades of Shiv Sena (including the UBT faction) dominance over India’s richest civic body.
However, the focus has now shifted to who will occupy the Mayor’s chair. Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde has made a strong pitch, describing the BJP as the “number one party” while asserting that his faction deserves the mayoral position, at least for the first year. Sources indicate the change could be a strategic move to strengthen bargaining power, with Shinde’s 29 corporators shifted to a hotel — ostensibly for orientation, but widely seen as a tactic to keep them united amid negotiations.
The Opposition Shiv Sena (UBT), which bagged 65 seats to become the second-largest party, has been left out of the power equation despite earlier hopes of a revival. The alliance’s sweep across most Maharashtra civic bodies has bolstered Mahayuti’s position, but the internal dynamics in Mumbai highlight emerging frictions even in victory.
As deliberations continue, the outcome will shape governance in the cash-rich BMC, which oversees a massive budget and key urban infrastructure for the financial capital.