Shiv Sena-BJP alliance break-up may impact Mumbai mayoral poll

MUMBAI: The most immediate impact of the break-up of the Shiv Sena-BJP alliance is likely to be seen in the Mumbai Mayor elections scheduled on November 22. The lottery deciding the reservation for the mayor’s post will be held on Wednesday.

In the 2017 civic elections-—where BJP won 82 seats, two seats less than Sena’s winning tally of 84—the BJP had voted in favour of Sena corporator Vishwanath Mahadeshwar as mayor.His term had ended in September, but it was extended till November owing to the state assembly election. Mahadeshwar had even contested the assembly polls from Bandra East constituency, but lost.
Officials from the civic secretary department said it is likely that the next mayor would again be elected from the Sena even if BJP corporators vote against it, as Sena has the maximum number of corporators in the House. “In the February 2017 civic elections, 85 corporators from Shiv Sena got elected. Later, in October 2017, six MNS corporators joined the Shiv Sena, which also had support of three Independent corporators, taking its tally to 94,” said a senior civic official. “In comparison, BJP has 81 corporators (one of the 82 elected was disqualified) with support from an Independent corporator and another from Akhil Bhartiya Sena.”
Sources said the number of Congress and NCP corporators is insignificant—together they have 36 corporators—and in the current political scenario, they are unlikely to put up a candidate, unlike the last mayoral polls.
Another fact that could work in Sena’s favour is if the Wednesday’s lottery decides that the mayor’s seat would be reserved for ST/SC/OBC candidate. “Only Sena has two Scheduled Tribe (ST) corporators,” said the official.
Political analyst Surendra Jondhale said that if Sena forms the state government and BJP tries to sabotage its mayoral ambitions, public opinion may go against them. “The BJP would not take that kind of political risk...especially considering that the Shiv Sena has a clout in Mumbai,” he added.