Daijiworld Media Network – Mumbai

Mumbai, Aug 28: Shiv Sena leader and Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Thursday claimed that his party has reached a power-sharing arrangement with its ally BJP over the Mumbai civic body's mayoral post.

According to Shinde, BJP mayor Ritu Tawde will continue in office for the first 2.5 years of the term, after which the Shiv Sena will have its own mayor for 1.25 years before the post returns to the BJP for the remaining 1.25 years.

The claim, however, appeared to catch senior BJP leaders by surprise. Mumbai suburban guardian minister and former Mumbai BJP chief Ashish Shelar said he was “absolutely not aware” of any such development. Mayor Ritu Tawde also said she was unaware of the arrangement and that such major decisions would have to be taken by the senior leadership.

BJP group leader Ganesh Khankar similarly said he had no information about any power-sharing formula and maintained that the decision would be taken by the party's senior leaders.

Shiv Sena group leader Amey Ghole, who was present at the meeting, however, said the arrangement had already been discussed by the senior leadership, referring to Shinde and BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis. Deputy Mayor Sanjay Ghadi also said he had heard about the power-sharing formula but was unaware of the details until Shinde announced it.

The proposed arrangement comes amid growing differences between the BJP and Shiv Sena within the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), particularly over the treatment of Ghadi.

The differences became visible during the launch of the BMC's Mumbai Clean League, when Ghadi objected to an alleged breach of protocol after he was given the fourth position on the stage in the absence of the mayor. Ghole subsequently sought an apology from the civic administration.

Tensions surfaced again during inspections of nallah-desilting works when Ghadi conducted an inspection independently after alleging that he had not been invited by the mayor.

Ghadi has also sought allotment of ‘Nisarg’, a bungalow at Veermata Jijabai Bhosale Udyan that was earlier occupied by Additional Municipal Commissioner Ashwini Joshi. He had cited the long daily commute from Dahisar as causing him physical and mental distress and sought the bungalow for accommodation.

Although the BJP and Tawde had supported the request, the bungalow was eventually allotted to Additional Municipal Commissioner Avinash Dhakne after it was vacated in June.

A senior Shiv Sena source described the proposed mayoral arrangement as a strategic move, arguing that the Sena's support was crucial for the Mahayuti alliance to retain control of the civic body. The source claimed that the ruling alliance could lose its majority if the Sena withdrew its support.

The source also suggested that any move by the BJP to bring corporators from the Shiv Sena (UBT) into the Shiv Sena could further strengthen the Sena's bargaining position within the alliance.

In the BMC elections held on January 15, the BJP won 89 seats while the Shiv Sena secured 29. The Mahayuti alliance's strength is expected to increase by four after new corporators are appointed to seats where five corporators were disqualified over invalid OBC certificates.

The proposed power-sharing formula is now expected to be considered by the senior leadership of both parties.