18 January,2026 07:59 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
Sanjay Raut`s remarks came as the mayoral race intensified following the BMC elections. File Pic
The Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut on Sunday claimed that many newly elected Shiv Sena corporators, who originally belonged to the undivided Shiv Sena before the split, do not want a BJP mayor in Mumbai, reported the PTI.
His remarks came as the mayoral race intensified following the BMC Election 2026 results.
The Shiv Sena led by Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde has moved its 29 corporators to a luxury hotel in Mumbai.
The party said the corporators are staying there for a three-day workshop, where Shinde will guide them on the functioning of the BMC.
However, Raut alleged that the corporators have been "locked up" and said they should be released.
When asked about the possibility of corporators returning to the UBT faction, Raut said that many of the newly elected corporators were originally Shiv Sainiks from the undivided party. He claimed that their understanding was that no BJP mayor should be elected, according to the PTI.
He also asserted that even Shinde does not want a BJP mayor in Mumbai.
Raut added that even if the corporators are kept in a hotel, they can still communicate through various means.
Shiv Sena leader Sheetal Mhatre rejected Raut's allegations, saying the party and the BJP contested the polls together as the Mahayuti alliance. She added that 20 of the 29 corporators are first-time winners and need guidance on BMC procedures, as per the PTI.
"We don't need to resort to hotel politics," Mhatre said. She also denied that the hotel stay was meant for better bargaining over posts in the BMC.
On Saturday, Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray said his party could secure the mayor's post if "Dev" (God) was willing. He also suggested that Shinde's party feared poaching attempts by its ally, the BJP.
Raut said there were discussions between Uddhav Thackeray and MNS president Raj Thackeray regarding the mayor's post, adding that many things were happening behind the scenes, the news agency reported.
In the recent civic polls, the BJP and Shinde-led Shiv Sena alliance won a clear majority in the 227-member BMC, securing 89 and 29 seats respectively. Shiv Sena (UBT) won 65 seats, while its ally MNS won six.
(with PTI inputs)
