No compromise on Mumbai Mayors post, say BJP leaders

Ahead of a meeting between leaders of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Shiv Sena in New Delhi on Tuesday evening to discuss the formation of various committees of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), a BJP leader said the party will not compromise on the mayoral position. “We have the numbers. There is no question of a compromise on the mayoral position. But the party will also see what the [Shiv Sena’s] demands are. The BJP will stand with [Shiv Sena chief and Deputy Chief Minister] Eknath Shinde,” the leader said.

Maharashtra’s Higher and Technical Education Minister Chandrakant Patil echoed a similar sentiment: “[Chief Minister] Devendra Fadnavis will decide who will be the Mayor. Logically, the Mayor should be from the larger party, which is the BJP.”

The BJP bagged the most seats — 89 of a total of 227 — in the BMC while the Shiv Sena won 29 seats.

‘Mahayuti Mayor’

BJP Mumbai president Ameet Satam said in Delhi on Tuesday, “There is no question of a compromise [regarding the mayor’s post]. Whether it’ll be from the BJP or the Shiv Sena is not important. A Mahayuti corporator will be the mayor of Mumbai. We have four more seats than the magic figure in the BMC.”

Speaking to The Hindufrom New Delhi, Shiv Sena leader Rahul Shewale said, “We are going to sit together to discuss functional and technical issues like group registration, the appointment of group leaders, and technical details.” He said that three leaders, including him, Mr. Satam, and Cabinet Minister Ashish Shelar of the BJP, will be part of the meeting.

A Shiv Sena leader said they expect a share in the mayoral term and in key positions on BMC panels.

The lottery to determine the reservation categories for the Mayors of all 29 municipal corporations will be held on January 22.

‘Insult to Maharashtra’

Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut criticised the Shinde Sena over the talks in Delhi. “Shinde’s leaders will have to sit at the feet of [Union Minister and senior BJP leader] Amit Shah to decide who the Mayor of Mumbai will be. This is an insult to Maharashtra,” Mr. Raut said.

The 29 Shiv Sena corporators, whom Mr. Shinde had moved to a five-star hotel in Bandra following the announcement of the BMC poll results on January 16, have left the hotel, a party functionary said on Tuesday. The Shiv Sena chief’s move was seen as a bid to keep his flock safe from poaching attempts ahead of the key mayoral discussions.

(With inputs from PTI)