The MahaYuti alliance has decided to appoint its own mayors in the municipal corporations of Thane, Kalyan-Dombivli, and Ulhasnagar. This decision aims to solidify the power-sharing agreement, pending Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis’ return from the World Economic Forum in Davos.
Upon Fadnavis’ return, a crucial meeting between Fadnavis and Chief Minister Eknath Shinde is scheduled in Mumbai to finalize the appointments, as stated by the BJP. The alliance, led by BJP State President Ravindra Chavan and Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, has been working towards a unified Mahayuti front in these civic bodies.
Chavan highlighted that the alliance has the public mandate in these regions, ensuring that the power structure reflects the people’s choice for Mahayuti governance in all three municipal corporations. This move signifies a strategic consolidation of power by the Shinde-led Shiv Sena and the BJP in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR), aiming to enhance regional development and grassroots influence for future electoral cycles.
Chavan’s statement follows Shinde’s Sena securing support from the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) in Kalyan-Dombivli, sidelining the BJP. With 62 seats consolidated, the Shinde faction is poised to establish power independently, without relying on the BJP, which also poses a strategic setback to Uddhav Thackeray’s Shiv Sena (UBT).
In Ulhasnagar, under Shinde Sena MP Dr. Shrikant Shinde’s leadership, the party is actively engaging with independent corporators and members of the Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi (VBA). The ongoing competition between BJP and Shinde Sena, currently tied at 37 seats each, aims to reach the “magic figure” of 40 to install a Shiv Sena Mayor, potentially leaving the BJP at a disadvantage.
Political analysts view these developments as a direct response to recent events in Ambernath and Badlapur, where strategic alignments and power plays have been observed. The current maneuvers in Kalyan-Dombivli Municipal Corporation (KDMC) are seen as a calculated response to previous political actions, indicating a dynamic shift in the local political landscape.
