“Team Shinde Moves Strategically After Hotel Shift to Counter Horse-Trading”

Shiv Sena Chief Eknath Shinde Moves to Seal Loyalty of 29 Newly Elected BMC Corporators

Determined to prevent defections, Shiv Sena chief Eknath Shinde has taken steps to complete all formalities for the 29 newly elected corporators of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), who were relocated to a five-star hotel soon after their poll victory.

Sources say the leader of the Shinde Sena corporators is likely to be announced today, with all documentation aimed at eliminating any risk of poaching. Names such as Yamini Jadhav, Trishna Vishwasrao, and Amey Ghole — young but experienced corporators — are reportedly in contention for top roles.

Poll Math and Political Stakes

The BMC elections, held for the first time since 2017, saw the BJP and Shinde Sena alliance win 89 and 29 seats, respectively. The Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT) and the NCP’s Sharad Pawar faction together won 72 seats. While the BJP-Shinde Sena combine has the numbers to cross the majority mark in the 227-member House, the question of who will become Mayor is expected to dominate talks.

Traditionally, the Mayor’s post has been held by a Shiv Sena corporator. Shinde, whose mutiny split the party, is likely to push for the Mayor role to assert his faction’s claim as the “real Shiv Sena,” while the BJP may seek the post for political leverage, as it has never held the BMC Mayor position.

Opposition parties — Shiv Sena (UBT), MNS, and NCP (Sharad Pawar) — account for 72 seats, while Congress, AIMIM, and Samajwadi Party won 24, 8, and 2 seats respectively. Even if the Opposition unites, it would fall eight short of a majority, making the Shinde Sena cautious about defections.

Securing Loyalty

• To foil poaching attempts, Shinde immediately moved all corporators to a five-star hotel.
• Uddhav Thackeray expressed concerns over BJP’s intentions, saying:
• “Those who once abandoned a party can do it again.”

Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Raut added that many Shinde Sena corporators are new faces who “do not want a BJP Mayor”, joking that “messages can still go through” despite seclusion, leaving open the possibility of a Mayor from their party if fate allows.

Shinde loyalist Raju Waghmare stated:

“We fought the election properly. We want all formalities completed without outside influence. That’s why our corporators are in a secluded place.”

Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis confirmed that the decision on the Mayor’s post will be taken jointly by him, Shinde, and other stakeholders.