In a significant political development in Mumbai’s Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), former mayor Kishori Pednekar has been elected as the group leader of Shiv Sena-UBT corporators, giving Uddhav Thackeray’s faction an experienced and credible face at the helm. The announcement on January 21, 2026, comes at a sensitive time as the battle for the Mumbai mayor’s post intensifies, following the recent BJP–Shiv Sena (Shinde) alliance sweep that ended nearly three decades of uninterrupted Thackeray family dominance over the country’s richest civic body.

As the Shiv Sena-UBT group leader, Pednekar will coordinate the floor strategy, political stance, and debates of all party corporators within the BMC. She will act as the key voice for Uddhav Thackeray’s camp on governance, policy, and financial matters, playing a crucial role in negotiations and confrontations with the ruling Mahayuti (BJP–Shiv Sena) bloc. Her previous tenure as Mumbai mayor equips her with administrative experience, public visibility, and credibility among party workers, making her a strategic choice for the opposition leadership.

Pednekar’s election occurs amid a high-voltage mayoral contest, following the BJP–Shinde alliance’s victory in the BMC elections, where the BJP won 89 seats and Shinde’s Shiv Sena 29 seats. With a clear majority in the civic body, the next mayor is expected to come from the Mahayuti camp, while Pednekar’s role will be to rally the Shiv Sena-UBT corporators, maintain party unity, and assert the faction’s presence despite being in the opposition.

Adding to the political heat, Shiv Sena-UBT MP Sanjay Raut has accused the BJP of allegedly tapping phones of corporators, including UBT members in a luxury hotel, claiming that the mayoral selection is being influenced from Delhi. The BJP has denied these allegations, countering that they have full confidence in their corporators and accusing the previous Maha Vikas Aghadi government of similar surveillance practices.

Within the new power dynamics of the BMC, Pednekar’s responsibilities are critical. She must lead opposition efforts, sharpen critique of the ruling bloc, and sustain Uddhav Thackeray’s influence in Mumbai civic governance. Her leadership is expected to project resilience and strategic coherence for the Shiv Sena-UBT faction, even as the BJP-Shinde alliance controls key decision-making in the civic body.

The appointment of Kishori Pednekar, an experienced and respected leader, signals a proactive approach by Shiv Sena-UBT to consolidate its corporators, maintain visibility in Mumbai politics, and play an assertive role in the civic administration despite the numbers deficit. It also comes at a symbolic moment, reinforcing the party’s organizational strength and capacity to challenge the ruling Mahayuti in governance matters and public policy decisions.

In conclusion, Kishori Pednekar’s elevation as Shiv Sena-UBT group leader in BMC marks a strategic step for Uddhav Thackeray’s faction to assert authority, maintain unity, and actively engage in the governance and political discourse of Mumbai, especially as the city witnesses its first mayoral transition in over three decades away from the Thackeray family. Her leadership will be closely watched as the BMC navigates the balance of power between the ruling bloc and opposition in the coming months.

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