No compromise on mayor’s post, hints BJP as it resists power-sharing demands by Shinde Sena

A senior BJP functionary, requesting anonymity, said, “In politics, everything boils down to arithmetic. The number game shows we have legitimate right over the Mayor of Mumbai. Also when it comes to power sharing committees, BJP’s claim over the standing committee is justified.” BJP insiders pointed to the long standing formula that existed during the party’s alliance with the undivided Shiv Sena led by Uddhav Thackeray.

A BJP minister who was earlier part of the BMC said, “Despite having good corporators with better understanding of civic subjects, we always played second fiddle to Shiv Sena because they had more seats in the BMC. For the past 25 years, the undivided Shiv Sena held the mayor post as well as the standing committee.” Even in 2017, he recalled, the BJP, which won 82 seats — two less than undivided Shiv Sena’s 84 — had handed over the entire power structure to the Thackerays.

Maharashtra BJP president Ravindra Chavan held talks with Shinde late Sunday night before flying to Delhi to attend the BJP’s national executive meeting. The discussions focused on power sharing in the Ulhasnagar and Kalyan-Dombivli civic bodies, where both parties have been locked in intense political competition.

Chavan said, “All the details regarding power sharing and mayor will be formalised once Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis returns from Davos.” He added that, in principle, the Shiv Sena and the BJP remain together.

As a counter strategy to rein in Shinde, the BJP has allowed its second rung leaders to assert claims in the Thane Municipal Corporation, where the Shiv Sena has emerged as the single largest party. Thane is considered Shinde’s turf and carries significant prestige for the Shiv Sena.

On Tuesday, BJP MLA Niranjan Davkhare said, “Shiv Sena should concede the post of mayor to BJP in Thane for stable administration.” In the neighbouring Kalyan Dombivli Municipal Corporation, where the Shiv Sena and BJP are evenly placed, both sides are staking claim to the mayor’s post.

BJP sources said, “In Mumbai, we are exploring all possible options. In the worst situation, if Shinde does not give us support for the Mayor, we will still manage. If Shiv Sena (UBT)’s newly elected 65 members abstain from the mayoral voting in protest, the halfway mark will come down to 81.” Shiv Sena (UBT), they added, would never accept a Shinde-backed candidate as Mumbai mayor.

The total strength of the BMC is 227, with the halfway mark at 114. However, party leaders noted that if a sizeable number of corporators across parties abstain from voting, the effective majority required would be lower.

BJP strategists also pointed to a similar political situation after the 2014 Maharashtra Assembly elections. Despite emerging as the single largest party with 122 seats in the 288-member House, the then undivided Shiv Sena under Uddhav Thackeray chose to sit in the Opposition. With Shiv Sena’s 63 MLAs staying away, the BJP fell short of the majority mark of 145. In a move that surprised many, the undivided NCP led by Sharad Pawar extended unconditional outside support to the BJP, allowing it to win the confidence motion through a voice vote. A month later, the Shiv Sena joined the BJP-led government headed by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis.

While there has been no official word from the Shiv Sena (UBT) on any possible truce with the BJP, Sanjay Raut’s praise for Fadnavis’s reception at Davos, carried in the party’s mouthpiece Saamana, was seen by some as carrying a subtle political message.

Shiv Sena (UBT) spokesperson Harshal Pradhan said, “What we are witnessing is political drama and power tussle between Shiv Sena and BJP. What and how they tackle their problem. Why are they dragging Shiv Sena (UBT). We have nothing to do.”

Of the 29 municipal corporations in Maharashtra, the BJP will need alliance support in only five, including Mumbai, Kalyan Dombivli, Amravati and Ulhasnagar. In the remaining civic bodies, party leaders said, it is expected to have a smooth run on the strength of its own numbers.