Despite the BJP-led Mahayuti alliance’s success in Maharashtra’s municipal corporations, Deputy Chief Minister Shinde’s Shiv Sena faction experienced a setback. In the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections, the “Shinde charisma” failed to deliver, with the party securing only 29 out of 90 contested seats, mostly with BJP support.
The defeat of high-profile candidates related to Deputy CM Shinde’s top ministers stands out in the election results. The strategy of fielding family members backfired, with notable losses among the “dynasty” candidates.
Deputy CM Shinde’s bargaining for 90 seats with the BJP, based on former corporators’ strength who switched from the Thackeray camp, did not yield the desired results. Several family members of senior leaders failed to secure victories, prompting questions from local party workers about prioritizing dynastic ties over merit.
Political analysts attribute the underperformance to factors like the enduring influence of the “Thackeray brand” among Mumbai’s Marathi voters. Deputy CM Shinde’s limited presence in Mumbai, coupled with poor strategic planning and flawed ticket distribution, contributed to the faction’s challenges.
The BJP-Shinde faction tension over seat-sharing and future claims on constituencies further strained the alliance’s cohesion. While Deputy CM Shinde aimed to install a Mahayuti Mayor in Mumbai, the election results highlight the faction’s struggle to appeal beyond its traditional strongholds.
Experts caution that Deputy CM Shinde needs to address the ground reality and move away from dynastic politics to navigate the upcoming challenges, including threats from opposition parties and supposed allies, as the path to the 2029 Assembly elections appears daunting.
