Mumbai Mayor will be from Mahayuti: Eknath Shinde, as BMC tussle drags on

According to sources, the Shinde Sena has sought a “clear and respectable share of power in the civic body”. It is learnt to have put two options on the table: the Mayor’s post for half of the five-year term, or control of the Standing Committee, considered the most powerful body in the BMC as it controls finances and key approvals.

With the BJP unwilling to compromise on the “administrative control of the BMC”, the issue is expected to be discussed when Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis returns from Davos, where he is participating in the World Economic Forum. Fadnavis is scheduled to return on January 24.

“No formal discussions have been held yet. It will only take place once Fadnavis returns,” a Shinde Sena leader said.

Meanwhile, countering the Opposition’s claim that his corporators were being kept at the hotel as the party feared poaching attempts, Shinde said: “Sena is not a party that gets scared. People are scared of the Sena. In fact, it’s they (Sena-UBT) who are scared and are not able to keep their flock together. The exercise was done for orientation purposes and to guide the newly elected corporators about the functioning of the BMC”.

Asked about demands within the party for the Mayor’s post, he said: “Mumbai’s Mayor will be from the Mahayuti.”

Earlier, during his first meeting with the corporators since their victory, Shinde reiterated that the BJP remains an ally and instructed them not to speak against the alliance. He also instructed the corporators to start work in their wards immediately.

“I congratulated the newly elected corporators and instructed them to pay attention to the issues faced by the people in their respective wards,” Shinde said. “Shiv Sena has become the second largest party in a very short time. Earlier, in the Assembly polls and even council polls, (Shinde) Sena emerged as the second largest party. We are in alliance with the BJP, which has emerged as the single largest party,” he said.

Meanwhile, Sena Minister Uday Samant said: “This year marks the 100th birth anniversary of late Sena founder Bal Thackeray, and every Shiv Sainik wishes that the Shiv Sena should have the Mayor’s post in Mumbai. However, the final decision will be taken by Devendra Fadnavis from the BJP and Eknath Shinde from the Sena”.

As the Shinde Sena corporators remained at the Taj Lands End Hotel at Bandra for the second day, they held informal discussions among themselves. They said they were in the dark about the power sharing talks or strategy, and had been called to the hotel for an orientation session.

Several corporators said they had planned victory rallies in their wards the day after the results, but were asked to report to the hotel instead. Some said they were waiting for clear instructions. “We were told to come here for orientation. The party leadership will decide everything and we will follow their decision,” a corporator said, on condition of anonymity.

Of the 29 corporators, 12 are first-time elected representatives, and 19 are women. Some of the corporators are learnt to be staying at the hotel with their family members.

The talks in Mumbai are also being linked to power-sharing arrangements in other civic bodies such as Kalyan-Dombivli and Thane, where negotiations are underway.

Sources said a possible arrangement could see the BJP conceding the Mayor’s post to the Shinde Sena, while retaining control of the Standing Committee. However, leaders said no final decision has been taken yet, and this is just a possible approach the BJP may take.

The BJP had earlier indicated that it would not compromise on the Standing Committee and administrative control of the civic body.

Maharashtra BJP Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule and poll in-charge for Maharashtra said no formal proposal regarding a two-and-a-half year Mayoral term had been made by the Shinde Sena. “The discussion on this will take place between Shinde ji and Fadnavis ji. They will decide together what can be done. Such discussions do not take place in front of the media,” he said.

The BMC will have to first complete the technicalities before a decision is taken, he said. “Unless we know the category of Mayoral candidate, how can we proceed? Will the next Mayor be a male/ woman/ OBC/ SC etc.,” he added.

The Mayor’s post is reserved on a rotational basis for the general category, Scheduled Castes, OBCs and women. The state Urban Development Department conducts a lottery to decide the category. The formal process should start next week.

“All these decisions regarding Mayor and committees will be taken at the BJPs core committee. We will convene our meeting when Fadnavis arrives from Davos. There is still time and it is not a big issue. The next Mayor will be from Mahayuti,” Bawankule said.

Meanwhile, Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut questioned why the Shinde Sena corporators were being kept at the hotel. “If everything is normal, why are the corporators being kept in a hotel? Why are they not allowed to go back to their wards and meet people? Calling this training is misleading. The corporators are being kept locked. I would request the Home Minister and CM Fadnavis to rescue them… This is not orientation. This is pressure politics,” he said.

Countering the criticism, Shinde Sena spokesperson Sheetal Mhatre said: “This is not resort politics. Many of our corporators are first-time representatives and need to understand how the BMC works. That is why this orientation programme has been organised… The election was fought as part of the Mahayuti… Decisions on posts like Mayor or Standing Committee will be taken by the alliance leadership.” — With inputs by Shubhangi Khapre