Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Sunday asserted that Mumbai will have a Mahayuti mayor, stating that voters have chosen development over emotional issues. He was speaking after interacting with newly elected Shiv Sena corporators of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), who have been shifted to a hotel. Shinde’s remarks come amid speculation over the decision to move 29 corporators-designate of the Shiv Sena to a hotel following the BJP–Shiv Sena Mahayuti securing a narrow majority in the recent civic polls.
Taking a swipe at the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT), Shinde said the electorate had decisively rejected emotional politics. “Mumbai will have a Mahayuti mayor. Even neighbouring cities like Kalyan-Dombivli will also have Mahayuti mayors,” he told reporters. Rejecting allegations that the corporators were being kept under surveillance at a luxury hotel, Shinde said the Shiv Sena was fearless and transparent. “The new corporators will get a common platform to interact at the hotel. I wanted to meet them as we are registering the group of 29 corporators with the Konkan divisional commissioner,” he said.
Amid political speculation over the Shiv Sena’s stand on the next Mumbai mayor, party leader and minister Uday Samant said the civic body elections were contested as part of the Mahayuti alliance. “The Shiv Sena will not repeat what the earlier Shiv Sena did after the 2019 elections,” he said, referring to the party’s alliance with the Congress under Uddhav Thackeray. Responding to demands from within the party for the mayor’s post, Samant said every party aspires to hold the top position. “Bal Thackeray’s birth centenary year gives this demand a different dimension,” he added.
Addressing the newly elected corporators, Shinde said the people had rejected Shiv Sena (UBT) and urged the members to make the most of the opportunity to serve citizens. He asked them to prepare ward-specific development action plans and ensure that their constituencies emerge as model wards. Shinde also cautioned the corporators against any conduct that could tarnish the party’s image. He noted that the BJP had emerged as the single largest party in the civic polls, followed by the Shiv Sena, calling the results a precursor to the upcoming Lok Sabha and Vidhan Sabha elections.