After Standoff, Shinde Signals Power-Sharing with BJP in BMC – 5 Big Political Shifts
After weeks of standoff, CM Eknath Shinde says he is ready to accept a power-sharing formula with BJP in the BMC
MUMBAI: After earlier asserting his position by demanding an equal sharing of the Mumbai mayor’s post and significant representation in key Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) committees, Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Monday said that he had not placed any demand before the BJP and that there was no dispute over posts or positions.
In the recently held 227-member BMC elections, the BJP won 89 seats, while the Eknath Shinde–led Shiv Sena secured 29 seats. Shiv Sena (UBT) won 65 seats, Congress 20, AIMIM eight, MNS six, NCP three, and the Samajwadi Party two.
The BJP fell short of a simple majority of 114 seats, but with Shiv Sena’s 29 seats, the Mahayuti alliance has a total of 118 seats and is in a position to form the government.
Earlier, Shinde had asserted his position and reportedly demanded either the Mumbai mayor’s post or the chairmanship of the Standing Committee or Improvement Committee as part of a power-sharing formula. He had also shifted his newly elected corporators to a hotel at Taj Lands End in Bandra, a western suburb of Mumbai.
However, the BJP refused to concede to his demands and indicated that it could seek support from other parties to form the BMC government if required. The BJP maintained that it would not agree to any such demands.
After realising the BJP’s firm stand, Shinde accepted the situation and clarified that there were no differences between him and the BJP. He said that the BJP and Shiv Sena would soon stake a joint claim to form the BMC government.
“The people of Mumbai have given a mandate in favour of the Mahayuti by responding positively to its development agenda. We will respect the mandate of Mumbaikars. Rumours are being spread, which should not be believed. A similar situation existed in 2019, when similar rumours were floated. The next mayor of Mumbai will be from the Mahayuti only,” Shinde said.
He added that the BJP and Shiv Sena had contested the BMC elections together and would therefore form the government together, not Shiv Sena alone. “We fought together in Mumbai and in other civic bodies as well. Hence, the Mahayuti will form the government,” he said.
Shinde said that no power-sharing formula had been finalised yet. “Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has gone to Davos. Once he returns, we will sit together and decide on the next mayor of Mumbai. There is no dispute between the BJP and Shiv Sena over any post, including the mayor’s position or committee posts,” he said.
“We are not people who fight for power. We are here to serve the people. We contested this election for the development of Mumbaikars. Our alliance with the BJP is not for bargaining, and our target is not power but public service,” Shinde added.
Clarifying the stay of Shiv Sena corporators at the hotel, he said they were brought together for a workshop so that they could work more effectively over the next five years. He added that once the newly elected corporators elect their group leader on Tuesday, they would return to their respective constituencies.
In a significant political development that could reshape Mumbai’s civic governance, Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde has said he is ready to accept a power-sharing arrangement with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), bringing an apparent end to a prolonged standoff between the two alliance partners.
The statement marks a major shift in the political dynamics of Maharashtra and signals a new phase in the BJP–Shinde Sena relationship, particularly with regard to control over India’s richest civic body.
For weeks, political circles in Maharashtra have been abuzz with speculation about growing differences between Shinde’s Shiv Sena faction and the BJP over control of the BMC. Despite being allies in the state government, the two parties were reportedly locked in tough negotiations over the distribution of key posts and decision-making authority in Mumbai’s civic administration.
The BMC is not just another municipal body — it controls a massive annual budget running into tens of thousands of crores and plays a central role in shaping Mumbai’s infrastructure, housing, transport, healthcare, and urban development policies. Control of the BMC has long been considered politically and financially crucial.
The standoff had raised fears of a possible rift in the alliance, with opposition parties closely watching for signs of cracks within the ruling combine.
Eknath Shinde’s recent remarks indicating his readiness to accept a power-sharing formula with the BJP have therefore come as a major political reset. By expressing openness to compromise, Shinde has signaled that stability in governance and alliance unity take priority over prolonged confrontation.
Sources suggest that Shinde is willing to allow a mutually agreed division of key BMC positions, including the mayoral post, standing committee memberships, and ward-level control, rather than pushing for unilateral dominance by his faction.
This move is being widely interpreted as a strategic decision aimed at ensuring the smooth functioning of the alliance both at the state and civic levels.
The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation is Asia’s richest municipal body, with a budget often exceeding that of several Indian states. It oversees:
- Infrastructure projects worth thousands of crores
- Mumbai’s roads, drainage, and coastal protection
- Public hospitals and schools
- Slum redevelopment and housing projects
- Water supply and waste management
Whoever controls the BMC wields enormous influence over Mumbai’s future and gains significant political leverage across Maharashtra.
This is why negotiations over power-sharing in the BMC are never merely administrative — they are deeply political and strategic.
While the exact formula has not yet been officially announced, political insiders suggest a few possible arrangements:
- Rotation of the mayor’s post between BJP and Shinde Sena
- Proportional representation in standing committees
- Joint control over key civic departments
- Coordinated policy decisions on major infrastructure projects
Such arrangements are designed to prevent conflict while allowing both parties to claim political credit for governance successes.
For the BJP, power-sharing in the BMC is not a concession but a strategic gain. The party has been keen to consolidate its presence in Mumbai’s civic administration, where it has historically played second fiddle to the undivided Shiv Sena.
By entering a formal power-sharing arrangement, the BJP strengthens its grip over Mumbai — India’s financial capital — and enhances its urban political footprint ahead of future state and national elections.
BJP leaders have welcomed Shinde’s statement, calling it a step towards “stable and cooperative governance.”
Opposition parties, including the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT), Congress, and NCP, have reacted sharply to Shinde’s move.
They accuse him of compromising Shiv Sena’s legacy in the BMC for political survival and argue that the power-sharing formula reflects BJP’s dominance over its junior partner.
Some opposition leaders described the development as “BJP’s takeover of Mumbai through the backdoor,” while others termed it “political pragmatism dressed as cooperation.”
If implemented smoothly, the power-sharing deal could bring much-needed administrative stability to Mumbai, which faces numerous challenges including:
- Recurrent monsoon flooding
- Infrastructure bottlenecks
- Air pollution and waste management
- Affordable housing shortages
- Transport expansion projects
A united civic leadership could, in theory, fast-track stalled projects and improve coordination between the state government and municipal administration.
However, critics warn that dual control could also lead to delays, bureaucratic conflicts, and blame games if coordination fails.
Shinde’s statement also carries significance beyond Mumbai. It sends a message that despite internal differences, the BJP–Shinde alliance intends to stay intact and function cohesively.
This could have implications for:
- Upcoming municipal elections across Maharashtra
- State-level political stability
- Opposition strategies
- Alliance politics at the national level
In an era of fluid political alignments, Shinde’s move appears aimed at reinforcing his relevance and reliability as an ally to the BJP.
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