Speculation grows over surprise BJP–Shiv Sena (UBT) tie-up in BMC amid power tussle

Mumbai: Political circles in Maharashtra are abuzz with speculation over a possible and unexpected alliance between long-time rivals—the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray faction)—within the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC). The buzz has intensified amid reports that Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde is allegedly pressuring the BJP to concede the mayor’s post and key committee chairmanships, prompting the saffron party to explore alternatives.

Sources suggest that the BJP, despite being the single largest party in the 227-member BMC, is weighing the option of sidelining Shinde’s Shiv Sena and instead seeking an understanding with the Shiv Sena (UBT) to secure control over the powerful civic body. The BMC is Asia’s richest municipal corporation and wields significant political and financial influence.

Fueling the speculation further is a recent post by Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray on social media platform X, made on the occasion of Shiv Sena founder Balasaheb Thackeray’s 100th birth anniversary. Raj Thackeray spoke about political flexibility while staying rooted in Marathi pride, a remark that has triggered fresh discussions about a broader realignment involving BJP, Shiv Sena (UBT), and possibly the MNS.

“Balasaheb Thackeray believed that while political adjustments may sometimes be necessary, love for the Marathi people should never diminish,” Raj Thackeray wrote, adding that any accommodative stance he takes in politics would not be for personal gain.

In the current BMC composition, the BJP holds 89 seats, emerging as the largest party, followed by Shiv Sena (UBT) with 66 seats. The Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena has 29 corporators, while the Congress has 21. With the majority mark at 114, no single party commands a clear mandate, making alliances inevitable.

There is speculation that during a crucial confidence vote in the BMC, Shiv Sena (UBT) corporators could remain absent, indirectly easing the BJP’s path to capture the mayor’s post and chairmanships of key bodies such as the standing and improvements committees.

Reacting to the developments, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut said his party may consider tactical adjustments with the BJP but would “never align” with the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena. Labeling Shinde a “traitor,” Raut asserted that there would be “no compromise with traitors under any circumstances.” He also expressed displeasure over the MNS aligning with Shinde’s faction in the Kalyan-Dombivli Municipal Corporation.

Meanwhile, political sources indicate that Raj Thackeray could play a behind-the-scenes mediating role between Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Shiv Sena (UBT) president Uddhav Thackeray. With twists unfolding rapidly, Maharashtra’s civic politics appears poised for yet another dramatic realignment.