Shiv Sena's Civic Polls Struggle: Shinde Faction Loses Ground Across Maharashtra
Early trends from Maharashtra's civic body elections reveal a tough battle for the Shiv Sena faction led by Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde. The party faces significant setbacks across multiple cities, with Thane emerging as its only stronghold.
Thane Remains Lone Bright Spot
Thane Municipal Corporation stands out as the sole area where the Shinde-led Shiv Sena maintains a lead. In the 2017 elections, the undivided Shiv Sena secured 67 out of 131 seats here. Current trends show the Shinde faction leading in approximately 45 seats, while the BJP holds about 12.
However, even in Thane, signs of weakness appear. In Ward 13, where Shinde himself resides, the party's candidate and former mayor Ashok Vaiti lost to Shiv Sena (UBT) candidate Shahaji Khusphe by 667 votes. This defeat carries political weight, suggesting voter loyalty has not fully transferred with the party organization.
Sharp Decline in Mumbai and Beyond
The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) results paint a stark picture. The undivided Shiv Sena held 84 corporators in 2017. This time, trends indicate the Shinde-led faction leads in only around 28 wards, despite contesting 90 seats alongside the BJP. Meanwhile, the Shiv Sena (UBT) appears ahead in approximately 60 wards.
While the BJP-Sena alliance crosses the majority mark in Mumbai, the Shinde faction lacks sufficient numbers to claim the mayor's post independently. This represents a dramatic shift from past decades when the Shiv Sena dominated the BMC for over twenty years.
Navi Mumbai and Other Cities Show Similar Pattern
The Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation reveals an even clearer transformation. In 2017, the undivided Sena controlled 38 seats compared to the BJP's seven. Current trends show the BJP leading in about 79 seats, while the Shinde Sena manages only around 30.
Other cities follow this pattern:
- Mira-Bhayandar Municipal Corporation: The undivided Sena previously held 22 corporators. Now, the BJP sweeps most wards, reducing the Sena to just two seats in one split ward.
- Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar: Where the undivided Sena once had 28 seats, the BJP now leads in 35, with the Shinde faction ahead in only 15.
- Nashik: The party fails to maintain its previous position of 35 corporators.
Uneasy Alliance Dynamics
Political observers point to strained relations between the Shinde Sena and BJP as a key factor in this decline. In the weeks before voting, Shinde Sena ministers skipped a cabinet meeting, expressing displeasure over alleged BJP attempts to attract Sena leaders.
Shinde later traveled to Delhi to raise complaints about BJP state chief Ravindra Chavan. Although both parties publicly affirmed their alliance strength, ground-level cooperation remained weak in many areas. Where BJP and Sena workers failed to collaborate, votes either split or shifted toward the BJP, ultimately hurting the Shinde faction.
Comparative Numbers Tell the Story
The trends highlight significant declines for the Shinde-led Shiv Sena across major civic bodies:
- Mumbai: From 84 corporators (2017) to approximately 28
- Thane: From 67 to about 45
- Navi Mumbai: From 38 to around 30, while BJP jumps from 7 to nearly 79
- Mira-Bhayandar: From 22 to almost nothing
These numbers collectively demonstrate that while Shinde retains power in the state government, his party's strength in civic bodies has diminished sharply. Except for Thane, the Shinde-led Shiv Sena appears unlikely to lead any major municipal corporation.
The results underscore the limits of organizational control and the political cost of friction with a stronger ally. They mark a significant departure from the past, when the Shiv Sena dominated local bodies throughout urban Maharashtra, particularly in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region.
