Is Shinde Sena’s poster in Mumbai’s BKC targeted against the BJP? Ahead of local bodies polls, there’s more to them than meets the eye

Is Shinde trying to tell the Bharatiya Janata Party not to corner him in Mumbai or Thane? Or is this a part of a strategy to drive a hard bargain — if you want to retain Mumbai, hand over Thane to the Shiv Sena?

Past and future elections

While Shiv Sena insiders tried to downplay it, saying it was a teaser directed against Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray, there is also an admission that it sends a subtle message to the BJP not to take the Shinde Sena for granted.

They recall how, after the 2024 Maharashtra Assembly polls, Shinde was dropped as CM and appointed deputy CM, and he had to bargain hard for portfolios and Cabinet berths for his party colleagues.

After the landslide victory in the Assembly polls, the BJP reckons it will have to consolidate its absolute hold in the local bodies. Without taking control of local bodies, including zilla parishads, municipal corporations, and nagar parishads, it cannot retain its leading stature in the 2029 Assembly and Lok Sabha elections.

At the BJP conclave following the Maharashtra Assembly polls, Union Home Minister Amit Shah had urged karyakartas to work towards “Shatpratishat BJP” or a 100 per cent BJP in the 2029 Maharashtra polls.

Tackling Thane

In the present scenario, the inherent conflict within the coalition is escalating ahead of the local bodies polls. And, this is evident not just through the poster war but also in meetings.

At a meeting held in Thane Wednesday, Shiv Sena local corporations, members, MLAs, and MPs suggested that they should contest the Thane Municipal Corporation polls alone. Some of these members even complained about the Thane BJP leaders’ lack of cooperation.

Downplaying the differences, the Shiv Sena Industries Minister Uday Samant said, “Every party worker may feel the mayor should belong to their party. The point is that such decisions are not taken by local leaders.” Ultimately, he argued, “All big decisions will be made at the level of CM Devendra Fadnavis, Deputy CM Eknath Shinde, and Deputy CM Ajit Pawar.”

Notwithstanding his explanation, the fact remains that even the BJP is not pleased with the Shiv Sena’s high-handedness in the industrial town of Thane, which happens to be Shinde’s political bastion.

Senior BJP MLA Sanjay Kelkar has been openly voicing his concern about the deterioration in administration and corruption due to the alleged corruption culture in Thane. The district BJP has begun assessing candidates for all 131 wards of the Thane Municipal Corporation.

Similarly, the Shiv Sena has also pulled its socks. As Sena MP Naresh Mhaske puts, “If we are left with no choice we will go alone. We have 86 corporators. We are a major force”.

Separate but together: Devendra Fadnavis

Officially, Devendra Fadnavis, Eknath Shinde, and Ajit Pawar have maintained they will contest local bodies elections together. Yet, all three are planning and preparing separately for the polls.

Fadnavis began pre-poll region-wise meetings with the BJP’s district units this week. He reviewed Nashik, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, and the Konkan region.

According to Fadnavis, “The BJP in principle will contest local bodies together as Mahayuti. Wherever the local units feel it is not possible, we will think otherwise. But even when we contest separately, it will be ensured that we don’t attack each other.”

However, a Sena political observer points out, “What top leadership says does not translate into ground.”

Observers point to BJP Minister Ganesh Naik’s increasing dominance and interference in the Thane district. Naik holds junta durbars in Deputy CM Shinde’s district, and openly criticises the Sena for corruption. Recently, Sena local leaders complained to Shinde against Naik, but in vain.

Naik says, “As a minister from Navi Mumbai, it is my duty to address the problems of the people. What is wrong with it? I have served people for 40 year,s and they know my work.”

However, things are not so simple.

Factoring local karyakartas

Along with organisational responsibilities for the expansion across Maharashtra, the BJP cannot stifle the aspirations of its karyakartas who want to contest the local bodies polls. Unlike the limitations in the Assembly and Lok Sabha, local bodies provide a larger canvas to accommodate the deserving grassroots workers in gram panchayats, zilla parishads, and corporations.

Therefore, there is a greater likelihood that the BJP will gain from its district units’ recommendations on whether to form an alliance.

BJP media in-charge Navnath Ban says, “Our alliance is strongly founded on common Hindutva ideology and good governance. Just because someone puts a banner, it does not mean our alliance is in danger or broken.”

But one thing is sure, Ban asserted, “The next mayor in both Mumbai and Thane will be from the Mahayuti. And, we will have the saffron flag atop BMC.”