The BJP–Shinde Sena alliance has registered a major success in the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections, delivering a significant setback to the Thackeray brothers. Following this result, major political developments are unfolding around the post of Mayor of the Mumbai Municipal Corporation. Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde has reportedly accommodated all his corporators in a five-star hotel in Mumbai. This has led to speculation that Shinde has proposed sharing the mayoral post with the BJP for two and a half years.
Shiv Sena (Thackeray faction) MP Sanjay Raut has made a strong statement regarding the developments surrounding the mayoral post. “Looking at the numbers, it is not easy to install anyone as the mayor of Mumbai,” Raut said, sparking intense political discussion.
“Shinde Sena will not get the mayor’s post in Mumbai. We all heard Prime Minister Modi’s speech on Sunday, where he said that for the first time, the BJP will have the mayor of Mumbai. This clearly means that the decision has already been taken in Delhi regarding who will become mayor,” Raut claimed. He further remarked sarcastically, “Gautam Adani will also decide who should be appointed as mayor. However, one thing is clear, considering the mandate given by the people of Mumbai, it is not easy to appoint anyone as mayor.”
Raut continued, “The way Mumbaikars have voted, no matter how much the BJP celebrates, it has not actually won. Modi should introspect on his own speech. He claims that the BJP defeated Congress where it was born, but he seems unaware of political history. For at least 25 years, Shiv Sena (Thackeray faction) has ruled Mumbai. The history written by those who draft Modi’s speeches is crude,” Raut criticized.
When asked whether the Thackeray-led Shiv Sena is in the race for the mayor’s post or prepared to sit in the opposition, Raut said, “We haven’t decided anything yet. For now, we are just enjoying the situation. Some people are staying in five-star hotels. As far as I know, BJP corporators are also being kept in a hotel somewhere. Who is afraid of whom? It is their government.”
“I find it amusing that the Chief Minister is sitting in Davos while closely monitoring the corporators in Mumbai,” Raut added.
Commenting on Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis’ visit to Davos, Raut said, “Devendra Fadnavis received a good response at Davos. As a Marathi man, if he is taking steps towards Delhi and the post of Prime Minister, we should be proud. He should go ahead and stake his claim for the Prime Minister’s post,” Raut said, taking a sharp dig.
When journalists asked about reports suggesting discussions between Devendra Fadnavis and Uddhav Thackeray, Raut dismissed them, saying, “We do not believe in such sources.”