Mumbai: As the political battle for power in the Mumbai Municipal Corporation intensifies, Eknath Shinde’s Shiv Sena faction has taken precautionary measures. Twenty-nine Shiv Sena councillors have been elected in Mumbai. It has been learned that Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde has decided to keep them all together in a five-star hotel in Mumbai’s Bandra area until he is elected mayor.
It is reported that this arrangement is being made to prevent horse-trading during the power-sharing process. Twenty-nine Shiv Sena councillors were instructed to report to a five-star hotel in Bandra by 3 pm on Wednesday. They have been asked to remain there for the next three days. This precaution is being taken to prevent any defections during the power-sharing process.
To gain power in the Mumbai Municipal Corporation, 114 corporators are required. Although the BJP won the highest number of seats, 89, it is far from a majority and will need the support of the Shiv Sena (Shinde) faction. Meanwhile, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Uddhav Thackeray’s faction has 65 elected corporators. With the support of the MNS and Congress, this number rises to 98.
Because no single party has secured a majority, political maneuvering and defections among corporators are likely. Following the 2017 elections, the Shiv Sena orchestrated the defection of seven MNS corporators to increase its strength during the government-formation process. Similarly, in the 2019 elections, the Maha Vikas Aghadi was formed under the leadership of Uddhav Thackeray and Sharad Pawar.
Even then, MLAs from all three parties were housed in different hotels in Mumbai. The 2022 incident of Shinde and 40 MLAs traveling to Guwahati is still fresh in memory, but four years later, “hotel politics” has once again become a topic of discussion. Given the events of 2019 and 2022, this method of gathering elected representatives in one place is being used to prevent the power equation from becoming unbalanced.
Meanwhile, when asked about the Shiv Sena’s caution, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said, “There is no reason for any defections right now. All decisions will be made peacefully and together. Therefore, such possibilities are out of the question.” Meanwhile, Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) party chief Uddhav Thackeray criticized the move.
Uddhav Thackeray claimed, “They are afraid of the BJP. Those who have defected once may defect again. Many councillors in the Shinde group are actually from our party. The BJP may poach their councillors for the mayoral post.” It is being said that it will take some time for the Mumbai Municipal Corporation to become a ruling body. Until then, Shinde is unwilling to take any risks.
