A Crisis In BJP-Sena Alliance Over BMC Mayor Post

29th January 2026 at 6:21 PM

2 minutes read

Mumbai : There was a nearly four-year delay in the elections for the BMC, Mumbai’s cash-rich civic body. Now, there is seemingly a stalemate over which party will occupy the BMC Mayor’s post. Cracks keep emerging among political alliances in Maharashtra, but this time. The dispute is around Shinde Sena’s demand for the mayor’s position on a rotational basis, with the party pushing to hold it for the first two-and-a-half years of the five-year term.

Shinde’s demand has more context — 2026 marks the birth centenary year of Shiv Sena founder Bal Thackeray, who had envisioned Shiv Sainiks occupying every rung of political power in Maharashtra — from the chief minister’s office to the BMC Mayor’s chair, concurrently. During Bal Thackeray’s time as the undivided Sena chief, and even for a few years after his passing, the Shiv Sena held sway over the BMC.

Both the Shinde Shive Sena and the Sena (UBT), headed by Bal Thackeray’s son Uddhav Thackeray, seek to carry that legacy forward, each claiming to be the “real” Sena. After the BMC election results were declared, both factions said that they wanted a Sena mayor, both refering to Bal Thackeray’s dream. If Shinde can install a Sena BMC mayor, it gives him an undisputed claim over the Shiv Sena, as he fulfils party founder Bal Thackeray’s dream in his birth centenary year. However, there is a big hurdle.

They command 118 seats, just above the majority mark of 114. But the Opposition Shiv Sena (UBT), won 65 seats, making it the second-largest group. Despite the Mahayuti victory, the alliance has yet to form the team for the functioning of the BMC. The rift in the Mahayuti alliance came out in the open on Tuesday when the Shinde-led Sena abruptly cancelled the registration of its 29 corporators for the BMC.

Deputy CM Eknath Shinde, in his trademark style, skipped a crucial Cabinet meeting and a planned discussion with BJP leader and Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. Instead, Shinde headed to his native village in Dare, Satara district, where he engaged in local party activities. Several ministers from his faction also boycotted a meeting chaired by Fadnavis. As part of the negotiations, the BJP is reportedly open to conceding control of the Thane Municipal Corporation to the Shinde-led Shiv Sena, in return for gaining the upper hand in the race for the BMC mayor’s post and control of the influential standing committee in the civic body.