The fight for Mumbai’s Mayor has entered its last stretch. And the decision is likely to be taken far from the city.
Senior leaders of the Bharatiya Janata Party and the Shiv Sena (Shinde faction) are set to meet in Maharashtra Sadan on Tuesday afternoon. The talks are expected to settle who gets the Mayor’s post and how key civic positions will be shared.
What the Delhi talks are about
The meeting will bring together Shiv Sena general secretary Rahul Shewale and BJP Mumbai president Amit Satam.
Three issues are on the table.
- The Mayor’s post.
- The Standing Committee chairpersonship.
- Control of other civic committees.
These positions decide how Mumbai is run on a daily basis.
Numbers favour the alliance, but talks continue
In the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation elections, the BJP emerged as the single largest party with 89 seats. The Shiv Sena (Thackeray faction) finished second with 65.
The BJP and Shiv Sena (Shinde) fought the polls together under the Mahayuti banner. Together, they have 118 corporators in the 227-member civic body. The majority mark is 114.
On paper, the numbers are comfortable; however, on the ground, negotiations are still tense.
There are claims that the Shiv Sena (Shinde) has asked for the Mayor’s post for two-and-a-half years. The BJP has denied this, saying no such proposal is on the table.
Meanwhile, the Shiv Sena (Thackeray faction), which ruled the BMC for nearly 25 years, is also said to be exploring its options quietly.
That has turned the Mayor’s election into a high-stakes political moment.