Mumbai Mayoral Tussle: Resort Politics Returns Amid Power Struggle
Maharashtra's political arena is once again witnessing "resort politics" following the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections. The Mahayuti alliance, comprising the Shiv Sena (Eknath Shinde faction) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), is embroiled in a power struggle over the crucial Mumbai Mayors post.
Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde recently arrived at Mumbais Taj Lands End hotel, where 29 newly elected municipal councillors from his Shiv Sena faction are currently staying. While officially described as a two-day workshop to train councillors on BMC functioning, sources indicate a deeper political manoeuvre.
The Shinde faction is reportedly pushing for its candidate to hold the Mayor's position for the initial two and a half years of the term. This demand is linked to the upcoming 2026 birth centenary of Balasaheb Thackeray, aiming to send a positive message to party workers statewide and influence future assembly and Lok Sabha elections.
Conversely, BJP sources suggest that the Mayors post will ultimately remain with the BJP, with a final decision pending Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis's return to Mumbai from Davos. The intensified negotiations highlight the high political stakes for both parties ahead of future electoral contests.