Amid the tussle over power sharing between Shiv Sena Shinde faction and the BJP over the Mayoral post in the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), reports are that the Mahayuti allies have reached a consensus.
The BJP and Shiv Sena (Shinde group) are negotiating to form a ruling council in the BMC and as per unconfirmed reports in local media, the parties have reached a consensus in this regard. In exchange for support in the BMC, the BJP will share power with the Shinde Sena in Nashik, where the saffron party emerged as the single largest party, winning 72 seats. Shinde Sena just won 26 seats in Nashik.
Speculations are that the Shiv Sena could demand two-and-a-half years for the post of mayor in Mumbai. But the BJP is adamant on keeping the Mayor’s post for five years in Mumbai. In that case, the Sena is likely to get plum posts in Nashik. The BJP is likely to keep the Mayoral post in Nashik too, but the Shiv Sena will get the posts of deputy mayor, standing committee member, ward committees, and subject committees, according to unconfirmed reports.
Former MP and Shiv Sena Shinde leader Rahul Shewale held discussions with BJP leaders in Delhi late last night regarding the BMC. In a brief meeting with Amit Satam MLA, the duo is said to have discussed the mayoral position and the division of statutory committees.
The Shiv Sena, though it won fewer seats than the BJP in the BMC elections, is said to be making a strong claim to the mayoral position, arguing that Mumbai has been its traditional political base and, given its administrative experience, the mayoral position should remain with it. On the other hand, the BJP is preparing to create history by electing its own mayor in Mumbai this time. The party claims that it won the most seats, and therefore has the first right to the mayoral post. Furthermore, there is a fierce tug-of-war between the two parties over control of the BMC's statutory committees, according to reports.
The BJP-Shiv Sena alliance holds the majority in the BMC elections. Together, the two parties have secured four seats more than the 114 required for a majority. The BJP has secured 89 seats, while the Shiv Sena has secured 29.