BMC Mayor Post Tussle Reaches Delhi: Shinde Evokes ‘Bal Thackeray’; His Aide, Team BJP In Capital

Last Updated:January 20, 2026, 19:24 IST

BJP vs Shinde Sena for BMC mayor post: Deputy CM Eknath Shinde’s aide Rahul Shewale and BJP's state and Mumbai leadership have reached Delhi

BMC Mayor Post Tussle Reaches Delhi: Eknath Shinde (left) and Devendra Fadnavis. (PTI File)

The deadlock between the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Shinde Sena over the mayor’s post in the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) seems to have reached New Delhi.

In the 227-seat BMC, the BJP has won 89 seats, Shinde Sena 29, Sena UBT 65, Congress 24, AIMIM 8, Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) 6, ist Congress Party (NCP) 3, SP 2 and NCP SP 1.

While the BJP has majority, it can’t reach the halfway mark of 114 without the support of Shinde Sena. This is what has given rise to the tussle over the BMC mayor’s post, sources told News18 Marathi.

ALSO READ | BMC Mayor Lottery On Jan 22: Will Uddhav Thackeray Support Devendra Fadnavis In Mumbai Civic Body?

BJP, Shinde group representatives reach Delhi

Both deputy CM Eknath Shinde’s representative, MP Rahul Shewale, and BJP’s state and Mumbai leadership have reached Delhi. Shinde has kept his corporators in a Mumbai hotel for three days, to which the BJP has expressed its displeasure. Officially, the Shiv Sena maintains that the newly elected members were shifted to the hotel for an orientation workshop about the functioning of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation.

The BJP, meanwhile, is firm on the mayor’s post. It has made it clear that they won’t give up their claim on the mayor’s post or the Standing Committee chairman’s post.

What Eknath Shinde wants

It is speculated that Shinde is keen to secure the BMC mayor’s post for the Shiv Sena—at least for the first two-and-a-half years — since it is the birth centenary year of party founder late Bal Thackeray.

Shewale will have an important meeting with senior BJP leaders in Delhi to discuss Mumbai’s power-sharing. The final decision about key committees and the mayor’s post, which control Mumbai’s municipal finances, could be made in this meeting.

The Shinde group could strengthen its claim on the Standing Committee, which controls the treasury of Asia’s richest municipal corporation, Mumbai. Besides this, Shinde is also trying to keep control over important committees like reforms, education, BEST, and health, said the report.

The Shinde group’s old strategy has been to first demand big posts, stay aggressive in negotiations, and then settle for positions that benefit them. This strategy has made the BJP uneasy, News18 Marathi quoted sources as saying.

Eknath Shinde plays ‘Bal Thackeray’ card

Citing emotions of Shivsainiks, Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Monday hinted at Shiv Sena’s claim to the Mumbai mayor’s post, projecting it as a mark of respect to Bal Thackeray in his birth centenary year amid a reported tussle with ally BJP. “Balasaheb Thackeray’s birth centenary year starts from January 23. Some Shivsainiks (party activists) have the feeling that a Shiv Sena mayor should be installed in the BMC," he said.

He stressed that the Shiv Sena would not take any decision that goes against the people’s mandate, emphasising that the Shiv Sena and BJP had fought the Mumbai civic elections as an alliance.

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Amid a debate over the exact motive behind Shiv Sena shifting its newly elected members to a posh hotel in Mumbai, Shinde scotched reports of new political equations emerging in Mumbai or elsewhere in Maharashtra.

While Shinde’s moves are keenly watched, sources in Shiv Sena told PTI that the Deputy CM is aware his party will not get the post and he hasn’t broached the topic with the BJP leadership.

“Shiv Sainiks wish that the party should have its own mayor since it is the birth centenary year of Balasaheb Thackeray. Even though Shinde is aware that the BJP will not accept the demand for a Sena mayor, there is no harm if there is a public discussion. Shinde can’t be seen as a leader on the back foot. At least the party can get some other important committees," a close associate of Shinde said.

Why Mumbai mayor post matters

Though largely ceremonial, the Mumbai mayor’s post is a symbol of the political dominance of the governing party. The mayor presides over key civic meetings of the country’s richest civic body.

Amid deepening suspense over who will don the crown of mayor, the Maharashtra government has scheduled the lottery for mayoral reservation covering Mumbai and 28 other civic bodies for January 22.

The Urban Development Department has issued an order stating that the draw of lots will be held at the state secretariat.

In Maharashtra, mayors are elected by corporators, and the post is subject to reservation by rotation. The lottery determines the category for which the mayor’s post will be reserved, such as general, women, SC, ST, and OBC categories. Once the category is announced, eligible candidates file their nominations.

ALSO READ | BMC Mayor Will Be From Team Fadnavis Or Shinde? BJP-Sena Mahayuti’s Plans For Mumbai

Playing up the purported internal tussle between Shiv Sena and BJP over the post of Mumbai mayor, Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut claimed the BJP is also planning to shift its corporators to a safer location. “Who is afraid of whom? You are the government. The chief minister is watching corporators being shifted while attending the World Economic Forum meeting in Davos (Switzerland). It is amusing," Raut told reporters.

Meanwhile, Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Nirupam stated the next mayor of Mumbai would be from the ruling Mahayuti alliance and ruled out the possibility of the Shiv Sena (UBT) candidate getting the post, days after Thackeray’s “God willing" remark on his party getting the mayor’s position caused a stir.

Harshal Pradhan, spokesperson of the Uddhav Thackeray-led party, said the BJP and Shinde are power-hungry.

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