Mumbai: The dates for the much-awaited municipal corporation elections in Maharashtra have finally been announced—all 29 corporations will vote in one phase 15 January, and the counting will be held the next day, 16 January.
Considered a mini assembly election, all corporations see high stakes battles as they are in urban centres. The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) is the richest civic body in India (with a budget of over Rs 74,000 crore), and whoever controls it has enormous political and financial clout.
For the last 25 years, BMC was ruled by the undivided Shiv Sena, along with the BJP, except the last term from 2017 to 2022, when the BJP and Shiv Sena fought separately. The BJP won 82 seats, and Sena won 84 in a 227-seat corporation.
However, with the Shiv Sena now divided, the BJP sees a good chance of controlling the BMC.
Until 2019, the state had four parties—with BJP and Shiv Sena in alliance, and the Congress partnering with the NCP.
In 2019, the Maha Vikas Aghadi was formed, comprising the Shiv Sena, Congress and NCP. But even that split when the Shiv Sena broke up into an Eknath Shinde-led faction and the Shiv Sena (UBT); and the NCP divided into two, with one faction led by Sharad Pawar, the other by his nephew Ajit Pawar.
In 2022, the Mahayuti was formed with the BJP, Shinde Shiv Sena, NCP (Ajit Pawar); and the MVA became an alliance of Congress, Shiv Sena (UBT) and NCP (SP).
Against this background, it will be interesting to see how local-level alliances are formed going over state-level alliances.
“Looking at the work done by Mahayuti, we are confident that we will come to power in civic bodies,” said CM Devendra Fadnavis, addressing the media Monday.
“We are trying to stick to the alliances mostly. Shiv Sena of Shinde will fight alongside us in most of the places,” he added.
BMC polls
As far as the high-profile BMC is concerned, the Mahayuti has already declared it will fight unitedly.
For the past 25 years, BMC was ruled by Thackeray-led Shiv Sena. But this time round, after split in the Sena, the Mahayuti is expecting a win. The NCP, on the other hand, has very few supporters, limited to pockets of Mumbai.
However, seat sharing might still be a prickly issue within the Mahayuti, according to sources in the Shinde-led Shiv Sena. The Shinde Sena wants to fight over a 100 seats, while the BJP is looking to fight 150 seats on their own, in a 227-seat body.
On the other hand, MVA constituents are expected to fight separately. Though there has been no official announcement yet, several Sena (UBT) leaders have publicly said they want to fight the elections in alliance with Raj Thackeray’s MNS; while the Congress has hinted that it is likely to go solo in the polls, even though in 2017, the Congress had won just 31 seats.
Summing up the situation for the Mahayuti, Fadnavis said: “Whether two Thackerays come together or not, whether Congress goes with them or not, it doesn’t matter. Mumbaikars have seen our work and what we have done for Marathi people here in Mumbai.”
Other corporations
Besides BMC, other corporations in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region like Thane, Kalyan-Dombivli, Bhiwandi, Navi Mumbai, Panvel will be keenly watched, as both the BJP and Shinde-led Shiv Sena are strong in the region.
Outside MMR, the Pune Municipal Corporation will see a good competition between BJP and NCP if they decide to fight separately. The last election was won by the BJP.
Currently, 27 municipal corporations’ terms have expired and every city is run by a state appointed adminstrator. Jalna and Ichalkarnji corporations were formed a couple of years ago, but they will also go to polls on 15 January.
Until last month, BJP and Shinde Sena were poaching each other’s workers in Thane, Navi Mumbai, Kalyan Dombivli. Now, after much bickering, the BJP and Shinde Sena have decided to stop the poaching.
Pune, the second largest city in the state, will, however, see a friendly fight between Mahayuti partners.
“In Pune, we have spoken to Ajit Pawar, that we might do a friendly fight and NCP and BJP will go against each other,” said Fadnavis.
Meanwhile, MVA will decide on alliances after meeting local leaders. In Sangli, the MVA will fight the election together, Jayant Patil, NCP(SP), told the press on Monday.
“We have decided to fight the election together as MVA, including Shiv Sena (UBT) and Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi,” Patil said at a joint press conference, which was held along with Congress’ Vishwajeet Kadam and Independent MP Vishal Patil.
(Edited by Viny Mishra)
Also read: Council polls left bitter taste, BJP & Sena call truce; to join forces for Mumbai, Thane civic polls