Mumbai Politics in Turmoil: BJP Wins BMC, but Factions Jockey for Power
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Mumbai's civic politics is on the brink of a major power struggle despite the Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) decisive victory in the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections. The BJP secured 89 seats, but its tally falls short of the majority mark, leaving room for poaching and alliances. Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde has taken precautions, shifting his Shiv Sena corporators to a hotel in Bandra. The BJP had aimed for 110 seats to edge closer to the majority mark but fell short. The Shiv Sena (UBT) led by Uddhav Thackeray remains defiant, with its 65 seats and the 29 seats of Shinde's Shiv Sena taking the ruling alliance's tally to 118, just four seats above the halfway mark. The opposition is exploring options, with Uddhav Thackeray hinting at a possible alliance to secure the mayor's post. Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sunil Prabhu and former Congress leader Sanjay Jha have suggested that a united Shiv Sena could have won more seats, potentially forcing the BJP into opposition. The BJP's initial plan to contest over 155 seats and win 120-125 seats was revised after central leadership intervention. With a reduced seat share, the party's revised goal of 110 seats was not met. Party leaders attribute their underwhelming finish to lack of coordination, flawed candidate selection, and failure to counter the 'Marathi asmita and Mumbai pride' pitch made by the Thackeray brothers. As the BMC's 227-member house hangs in the balance, the BJP, Shiv Sena (UBT), and other factions are jockeying for position in a high-stakes game of power and influence.
