Mumbai's Mayoral Race Remains Unsettled Despite Clear Alliance Majority
The question of who will become Mumbai's next mayor continues to hang in the air. This uncertainty persists even though the BJP and the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena have secured a clear majority in the 227-member Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation. While no rule mandates that the single largest party must claim the mayor's post, historical patterns show that parties with a clear majority typically manage to secure it.
Election Results and the Current Stalemate
The Bharatiya Janata Party won 89 seats in the recent civic polls. The Shiv Sena faction led by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde secured 29 seats. Meanwhile, the Shiv Sena (UBT), led by Uddhav Thackeray, emerged as the second single largest party with 65 seats. The last mayor was Shiv Sena's Kishori Pednekar, who has also won re-election in this cycle.
Despite the Mahayuti alliance's numerical strength, intense negotiations and public political posturing ensure the mayoral question stays unresolved. The election for the mayor is likely to be held on January 28, 2026, according to civic sources. This will follow a special meeting called by the municipal secretary and commissioner. An official explained that corporators will vote in the house, and whoever receives the maximum votes will be declared the mayor and deputy mayor.
Shiv Sena (UBT) Strikes a Defiant Tone
Amid the ongoing suspense, Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray adopted a defiant stance. He addressed newly elected corporators at his residence, Matoshree. Thackeray took a sharp dig at Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, alleging his faction lives in fear of the BJP.
"The BJP may claim that Shiv Sena was finished on paper," Uddhav stated, "but they failed to finish it on the ground. They cannot buy loyalty despite employing all means." He accused the BJP of winning the polls "by betrayal" and claimed the party wants to mortgage Mumbai. "Marathi manoos won't forgive this sin," he added.
Thackeray expressed his faction's dream to get a Shiv Sena (UBT) mayor elected, saying, "God willing, it will happen." He also issued a warning about potential defections, noting that many corporators elected from the Shinde faction were originally from Sena (UBT). He suggested the BJP could engineer further defections to capture the mayor's post.
Luxury Hotel Move Fuels Speculation
On Saturday, the Shinde-led Sena shifted its newly elected corporators to a luxury five-star hotel in Mumbai. This move triggered fresh rounds of political speculation across the city. Party leaders defended the decision, stating it was meant to help corporators "refresh" after the grueling elections and undergo necessary orientation sessions.
Shinde felicitated his corporators at the hotel. Corporator Amey Ghole mentioned that the deputy chief minister would brief them on the city's development plan, manifesto implementation, and a detailed five-year roadmap. Sena functionaries indicated the party would demand the first two-and-a-half-year mayoral term as part of a power-sharing agreement.
They argue the BJP does not possess enough seats to appoint a mayor independently and must therefore share the post. The Shinde faction also seeks proportional sharing of key committee posts, including the influential standing committee chairmanship.
Fadnavis Dismisses Poaching Talks, Promises Consensus
Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis moved to dismiss all talk of political poaching. He asserted that Mumbai would have a consensus "Mahayuti mayor." "Eknath Shinde, I, and other leaders from both parties will meet," Fadnavis said. "Together we will take a decision regarding who will be the Mumbai mayor and for how long. There will not be any differences. Everything will go smoothly. Together, we will efficiently run Mumbai."
Reacting to Uddhav Thackeray's remark about "Dev" (God) helping Sena (UBT), Fadnavis quipped that he too is often called "Deva." He then added, "The God above has decided that there will be a Mahayuti Mayor."
Opposition Respects Democracy but Holds Numbers
Meanwhile, Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut stated that the opposition possesses enough numbers to challenge the ruling alliance. However, he emphasized they would respect democratic processes. For now, Mumbai waits as political leaders negotiate behind closed doors and make public statements, ensuring the city's top civic post remains a topic of heated debate and speculation.
