Shinde Sena corporators check out after Gazette notification; Shinde meets BJP leaders in Delhi

The BMC has a total strength of 227 corporators, and 114 seats are needed for a majority. The BJP has emerged as the single largest party with 89 seats, but falls short of the majority on its own. The Shinde-led Shiv Sena has 29 seats, taking the alliance’s total to 118, above the majority mark.

With the post-election numbers placing the Shinde-led Sena in a key position, Shinde met the BJP leadership in Delhi on Tuesday. He is learnt to have briefed them on the situation in Mumbai following the BMC results, including discussions on the mayor’s post and power-sharing arrangements in other municipal corporations where the two parties contested together.

Sources said that once the Gazette notification was issued, there was no longer a need to keep the corporators together, and they were allowed to return to their wards. Several corporators had been keen to return earlier to hold victory meetings with voters.

Party sources said the Shiv Sena will now proceed with the formal registration of its municipal group, after which a group leader will be appointed and party discipline mechanisms will come into force.

Senior Shiv Sena leader Rahul Shewale is also expected to be part of the discussions with BJP leaders, as talks extend beyond Mumbai to civic bodies such as Thane and Kalyan-Dombivli.
The final shape of power-sharing in the BMC is expected to become clear after these discussions conclude.