A sharp political disagreement has emerged within Maharashtra's ruling Mahayuti alliance over the prestigious mayor's post in the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC). Amey Ghole, the leader of the Shiv Sena BMC faction, claimed that a structured power-sharing formula was mutually agreed upon during a coalition meeting held at 'Varsha', the official residence of the Chief Minister. However, senior leaders of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) have outrightly refuted these assertions, stating that no formal tenure-sharing arrangement exists for the civic body's top executive post.
The Proposed Rotational Mayor Formula Asserted by Shiv Sena
According to the details outlined by Amey Ghole, the power-sharing arrangement finalized at the 'Varsha' meeting mandated that the BJP would occupy the mayor's seat for the initial two and a half years of the term. Following this, Eknath Shinde's Shiv Sena would assume the mayoral position for the subsequent one and a quarter years (15 months), before returning the post to the BJP for the final one and a quarter years. Ghole emphasized that the distribution of key statutory and consultative committees within the BMC was executed using this exact rotational breakdown. Citing this understanding, the Shiv Sena faction intends to firmly demand its designated turn at the helm of Asia's richest municipal body.
BJP Dismisses Claims as Informal, Demands Official Clarity
Countering the claims made by the Shiv Sena leader, BJP minister and senior leader Ashish Shelar stated that informal conversations hold no administrative or political standing. Shelar insisted that had an official pact regarding the mayor's position been established between the coalition partners, a public announcement would have been made. He added that if CM Fadnavis and Deputy CM Shinde had engaged in structured discussions or passed a specific resolution on the matter, both leaders would directly clarify the actual position to the public rather than relying on factional claims.
'Operation Tiger' Strategy and Current Numerical Dynamics in BMC
The dispute unfolds alongside reports indicating that the Shinde-led Shiv Sena is executing a strategic maneuver code-named 'Operation Tiger' to consolidate its strength in the BMC. Under this initiative, the Shinde faction is seeking to induct approximately 45 municipal councillors currently affiliated with Uddhav Thackeray's Shiv Sena (UBT). Successfully engineering this crossover would substantially increase Shinde Sena's numerical tally, significantly elevating its bargaining power for the mayoralty. At present, the BJP holds 89 seats in the civic body, while Shinde Sena commands 29 councillors, expanding to 33 with allied support. In contrast, Shiv Sena (UBT) retains 65 councillors, and Ajit Pawar's Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) holds 3 seats.
Recent Financial Controversies and Civic Protests in BMC
This escalating tussle for civic leadership comes on the heels of prior governance controversies that have rocked the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation. Recently, the civic administration faced intense backlash over a Rs 25 lakh public relations (PR) agency contract. Opposition parties launched fierce protests against the tender, alleging systemic misuse of Mumbai taxpayers' money. Furthermore, another political row erupted over the municipal corporation's decision to procure new Innova luxury vehicles for civic officials, drawing sharp criticism from opposition leaders who accused the administration of fiscal extravagance amidst pending public projects.
