BJP Intensifies Negotiations for Power-Sharing Deal with Shinde Sena in Maharashtra
Nearly two weeks after achieving a historic victory in the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) polls alongside its key Mahayuti ally, the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is now accelerating efforts to resolve differences over power-sharing arrangements to govern these crucial civic bodies across Maharashtra.
Proposed Bargaining Formula for Key Municipal Corporations
As part of its strategic bargaining proposal, the BJP appears willing to relinquish control of the Thane Municipal Corporation to the Shinde faction of Shiv Sena. In exchange, the party aims to secure the influential mayoral position and command over the standing committee in the financially significant BMC.
Regarding the municipal corporations in Kalyan-Dombivli and Ulhasnagar, where electoral tallies between the two allies are nearly equal, the BJP advocates for an "equal" power-sharing arrangement with the Sena. These four corporations, all situated within the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR), represent crucial battlegrounds where the BJP and Shiv Sena contested elections jointly.
Highly placed sources within the BJP revealed: "Our proposal to Shinde is straightforward: retain power in Thane Municipal Corporation according to your terms while allowing the BJP to take the upper hand in BMC. For Kalyan-Dombivli and Ulhasnagar, we propose a balanced 50:50 power-sharing foundation."
Political Dynamics and Recent Developments
This proposed formula is expected to undergo detailed discussion between Chief Minister and BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis and Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde during their forthcoming meetings. The political landscape witnessed tension recently when Shinde notably absented himself from the weekly Fadnavis Cabinet meeting on Tuesday, raising concerns within the ruling coalition.
Shinde reportedly traveled to his native village Dare in Satara district, a pattern he has historically followed when expressing dissatisfaction over political or policy disagreements with his senior ally. A senior bureaucrat commented, "Shinde has skipped the Cabinet meeting. We remain uncertain about the specific cause of his absence."
Addressing media representatives after the Cabinet meeting, Fadnavis attempted to downplay the emerging controversy, stating, "We remain united and continue our discussions. No significant dispute exists between alliance partners. All decisions concerning mayoral positions or power formulas in BMC and other municipal corporations across Maharashtra will be reached through consensus shortly."
Technical Considerations and Alliance Strategy
While dismissing suggestions that decision-making for these civic bodies faces delays due to BJP-Sena differences, Fadnavis explained, "Certain technical aspects require resolution. We are evaluating options regarding whether to register as a unified bloc (BJP-Sena) or separately alongside smaller parties. This strategic decision is essential to enhance our percentage representation across various working committees within the BMC."
Sources indicated that the BJP has urged Shiv Sena to pursue joint registration, presenting a united front in BMC operations under joint BJP leadership. However, Shiv Sena remains non-committal, preferring to maintain its distinct political identity.
Electoral Mathematics and Corporation-Specific Scenarios
In the 227-member BMC, the BJP secured 89 seats, emerging as the single largest party, while the Shinde Sena captured 29 seats. Their combined strength of 118 seats exceeds the simple majority requirement by four seats. Contrastingly, in Thane, Shinde's political stronghold, Shiv Sena won 75 seats in the 131-member corporation compared to BJP's 28 seats, granting Sena independent control without BJP support.
BJP insiders highlighted how the party agreed to a pre-poll pact in Thane "according to Shinde's preferences," overriding their local unit's desire to contest elections independently. Following Thane's results, BJP leader Sanjay Kelkar remarked that "Our party would prefer to sit in opposition," while another party MLA Niranjan Davkhare asserted, "The BJP should have its mayor at Thane."
In the 122-member Kalyan-Dombivali Municipal Corporation (KDMC), Shiv Sena obtained 53 seats versus BJP's 50. With five corporators from Raj Thackeray-led MNS pledging support to Shinde, the Sena narrowly misses the majority threshold. The party shows reluctance to grant BJP significant space in KDMC, particularly since Shinde's son Shrikant serves as Lok Sabha MP from the Kalyan-Dombivali constituency.
The 78-member Ulhasnagar corporation presents another competitive scenario, with BJP holding 37 seats compared to Sena's 36, creating intense jostling for the mayoral position between both partners.
Negotiation Priorities and Expected Resolution Timeline
Amid these complex political pressures across multiple corporations, the BJP camp maintains sharp focus on the Mumbai civic body, arguing that Shinde should concede both the mayor's post and standing committee control to the party within BMC. However, Shinde insists on implementing a rotational system for the BMC mayor's position, allocating 2.5 years to each ally.
BJP sources suggest that negotiations between both sides to finalize a comprehensive power-sharing formula will likely culminate in a formal agreement by early February, potentially resolving current political uncertainties.
