Shiv Sena Power Struggle Erupts After BMC Election Results
The political drama in Maharashtra has taken a dramatic turn following the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation polls. Shiv Sena chief Eknath Shinde has reportedly confined twenty-nine party corporators at the luxurious Taj Hotel in Mumbai. This move appears designed to shield them from potential poaching attempts after the National Democratic Alliance's victory in the civic elections.
Thackeray Camp Claims 'The Game Is On'
Meanwhile, the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena faction has injected fresh suspense into the situation. Senior leader Sanjay Raut, a close aide of Thackeray, declared that "the game is on" in a statement to NDTV. He suggested that significant developments are unfolding behind the scenes, describing any political majority as inherently unstable.
Raut made a surprising revelation about interactions between the rival groups. He confirmed that members from Team Thackeray are visiting the five-star hotel where Shinde's corporators are staying. They are going there specifically for lunch meetings. "They shouldn't suspect us," Raut remarked, hinting at ongoing communications between the factions.
Raut's Bold Claims About Communication and Leadership
The Rajya Sabha MP elaborated on how messages can still travel despite physical confinement. "No matter how much you confine them, there are many means of communication," Raut asserted. He expressed confidence that messages continue to flow between the isolated corporators and external contacts.
Raut made a significant prediction about Mumbai's leadership. He suggested that "if God wills," their party could still provide the next Mayor for the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation. This statement echoes similar remarks previously made by Uddhav Thackeray himself about the mayoral position.
Accusations of Illegal Confinement
Sanjay Raut leveled serious allegations against the Shinde faction's actions. He claimed the corporators from the BJP-Shiv Sena alliance are being held captive against their will. According to Raut, they face fears of kidnapping, threats, or physical harm from political opponents.
"Eknath Shinde has turned the Taj Hotel into a jail," Raut declared in comments reported by ANI. He demanded immediate release of the twenty-nine individuals, though he sometimes mentioned twenty-five in his statements. Raut called upon the Chief Minister to order police intervention to "break the jail" and free the confined corporators.
Shinde Faction Counters Raut's Allegations
Shiv Sena leader Raju Waghmare, a close associate of Eknath Shinde, offered a sharp rebuttal to Raut's claims. He questioned Raut's credibility with sarcastic remarks about consulting astrologers. "Has Sanjay Raut started seeing a Jyotish now? He keeps on lying regularly," Waghmare stated according to NDTV sources.
Waghmare provided a different justification for housing corporators at the hotel. He described political opponents as "a group of looters" who have allegedly exploited Mumbai for years. "They will now try and loot our people too," Waghmare explained. He positioned the hotel stay as a protective measure against these perceived threats.
BMC Election Numbers Create Tense Standoff
The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation election results have fundamentally altered Mumbai's political landscape. Friday's outcome ended the undivided Shiv Sena's nearly thirty-year dominance in India's financial capital. The Bharatiya Janata Party emerged as the largest single party in the 227-member municipal body.
The majority threshold requires 114 seats in the BMC. Final counts show the BJP secured 89 seats while its ally Eknath Shinde's Shiv Sena won 29 seats. Together, their Mahayuti alliance commands 118 seats, just four above the majority mark.
An interesting mathematical possibility exists if all opposition parties unite. Their combined strength would reach 106 seats, falling eight short of the majority. This narrow gap creates an intensely competitive environment where every corporator's allegiance becomes crucial.
The political maneuvering continues as both Shiv Sena factions position themselves for advantage. The luxury hotel has become an unexpected battleground in this high-stakes struggle for control of Mumbai's civic administration.
