Speculation over the next BMC mayor has intensified after the Mahayuti coalition secured a narrow majority in the 2026 civic polls. Deputy CM Eknath Shinde has clarified that his party, the Shiv Sena, will honour the alliance mandate despite internal aspirations
Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde. File pic
Speculations around who will be the next BMC Mayor have already ignited after the Mahayuti coalition managed to secure only a narrow victory in the recently concluded Mumbai civic body polls. Speaking to news agency PTI, a source said that Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister (CM) Eknath Shinde is clear that his party, the Shiv Sena, will honour the mandate for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led Mahayuti in the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC).
The Sena chief also remarked that the shifting of the 29 corporators-elect of his party to a five-star hotel in Mumbai was being unnecessarily hyped.
Following the BMC Elections 2026 Results, the 29 newly elected members were shifted to a hotel.
There is a speculation that Shinde is keen to secure the BMC Mayor's post for the Shiv Sena at least for the first two-and-a-half years as it is the birth centenary year of party founder, late Bal Thackeray, PTI reported.
Sources from the Shiv Sena have also said that though Shinde is aware that his party will not get the post and hasn't broached the topic with the BJP leadership, he cannot be seen as going on the back foot.
One of the close associates of the Shiv Sena told PTI, “Shiv Sainiks wish that the party should have its own mayor since it is the birth centenary year of Balasaheb Thackeray. Even though Shinde is aware that the BJP will not accept the demand for a Sena mayor, there is no harm if there is a public discussion. Shinde can't be seen as a leader on the back foot. At least the party can get some other important committees."
"Shinde is absolutely clear that he has no plans to violate the mandate for the BJP-Shiv Sena alliance in Mumbai," the source added.
BMC Elections 2026 Results: Hotel politics
Sources also said that there is too much talk about the shifting of the 29 Sena corporators-elect to a five-star hotel in Mumbai to avoid poaching.
“It is a training workshop for the newly elected members and an opportunity for Shinde to familiarise himself with them and tell them what he expects from them," said sources.
In the recently concluded civic polls, the BJP-Shiv Sena alliance secured 89 and 29 seats, respectively. The Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) won 65 seats, while its ally Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) emerged victorious on six.
(With inputs from PTI)
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