Mumbai : Employment Guarantee Scheme Minister Bharat Gogawale has expressed confidence that if more corporators from Eknath Shinde’s Shiv Sena are elected in the upcoming Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections, the post of Mumbai’s Mayor will be held by the Shinde faction.
The Supreme Court has directed that elections to local self-governing bodies be held within four months, prompting the State Election Commission to begin preparations. The commission has indicated that the upcoming local body elections are likely to be held in the second half of October. In response, leaders across political parties have begun mobilising their cadres, with MahaYuti leaders instructing office-bearers and workers to start groundwork. Against this backdrop, the MahaYuti alliance is expected to contest the elections jointly, rather than independently.
However, if the alliance comes to power, the 2017 formula will be reinstated. At that time, the BJP held the Chief Minister’s post while Shiv Sena controlled the BMC with the Mayor’s position. A similar power-sharing strategy is being planned for the upcoming elections. Gogawale indicated that while the BJP may head the Standing Committee, the Shiv Sena is likely to retain the Mayor’s seat. The Supreme Court’s ruling has cleared the path for local elections, and among the various bodies, the BMC remains the most significant. Shiv Sena and BJP have jointly held power in Mumbai’s civic body for the past 25 years. Over the years, many political parties have attempted to weaken Shiv Sena’s hold on the BMC.
In the 2017 elections, Shiv Sena secured 84 seats, while the BJP closely followed with 82 seats, posing a serious challenge. To maintain control, Shiv Sena had to skillfully navigate coalition dynamics. Initially, the BJP took a watchdog stance but later extended external support to Shiv Sena, enabling them to secure the Mayor’s position. It was speculated that this support came in return for Shiv Sena allowing BJP to retain the Chief Minister’s post in the state. According to Gogawale, the same formula will be applied again after the upcoming election.
This will be the first BMC election since the split in Shiv Sena. Historically, Shiv Sena has held strong influence in Mumbai, with many areas still considered its bastions. Although the BJP has laid claim to contesting 150 seats, Gogawale said that allocating that many seats under the current circumstances would not be feasible. He emphasized the importance of mutual understanding among all three alliance partners when it comes to seat-sharing. Discussions regarding this matter are ongoing at the senior leadership level.
