The political temperature in Maharashtra, particularly in Mumbai, rose sharply on Wednesday as all 65 newly elected Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray faction) corporators prepared to converge at the Konkan Commissioner’s Office for mandatory registration. This move, taking place in the backdrop of the fiercely contested Mumbai mayor race, marks a significant milestone in the unfolding power struggle within the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), India’s richest civic body.

According to party sources, the corporators were scheduled to depart together from Sena Bhavan, the Shiv Sena (UBT) headquarters, at around 11:00 am, travelling by bus directly to the Konkan Commissioner’s Office. The coordinated departure and collective registration reflect a deliberate show of unity and organisational discipline by the Uddhav Thackeray-led faction at a time when political alignments within the BMC are under intense scrutiny.

Formalising Shiv Sena (UBT)’s Claim in BMC

The registration process is not a mere procedural formality. It plays a critical role in officially recording the group affiliation of corporators, which becomes decisive during the election of the mayor, deputy mayor and standing committee members of the BMC. By ensuring that all 65 corporators register together under the Shiv Sena (UBT) banner, the party aims to eliminate any ambiguity regarding loyalty, numbers and legitimacy in the highly competitive civic power contest.

For Shiv Sena (UBT), the registration symbolises its formal assertion in the post-election scenario, especially after losing its long-held dominance over Mumbai’s civic administration. The Thackeray family had effectively controlled the BMC for nearly three decades, making the current political situation one of the most consequential transitions in Mumbai’s municipal politics.

A High-Stakes Mayor Race

The Mumbai mayor’s post is among the most influential civic positions in the country, overseeing a corporation with an annual budget running into tens of thousands of crores. Control of the BMC translates not just into administrative authority but also immense political capital, especially in Maharashtra’s complex power equations.

The recent Maharashtra Municipal Corporation Elections dramatically altered the balance of power. The BJP emerged as the single largest party with 89 seats, while the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena faction secured 29 seats, together giving the Mahayuti alliance a comfortable majority. In contrast, Shiv Sena (UBT) won 65 seats, a significant tally but insufficient on its own to stake claim to the mayor’s chair without external support.

In this context, the registration of corporators becomes a crucial early step in the mayoral process, setting the stage for negotiations, alliances and potential legal battles over recognition and group strength.

Sanjay Raut’s Phone Tapping Allegations Add Fuel

The registration drive is unfolding amid explosive political allegations that have further heightened tensions. Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut has accused the BJP of tapping the phones of corporators, including those belonging to Shiv Sena (UBT) and even its own alliance partners. According to Raut, such alleged surveillance is aimed at monitoring movements and influencing corporators ahead of the mayor’s election.

Raut claimed that some corporators were being kept under watch, describing the situation as an undemocratic attempt to control elected representatives. He also alleged that decisions regarding Mumbai’s civic leadership were being dictated “from Delhi”, an assertion aimed at portraying the BJP as undermining Maharashtra’s political autonomy and regional pride.

The allegations have also been linked to reports that corporators from rival factions were shifted to luxury hotels under the pretext of orientation programmes, a practice often viewed in Indian politics as a measure to prevent defection or poaching.

BJP’s Strong Denial and Counter-Claims

The BJP has categorically denied all allegations of phone tapping and surveillance. BJP media in-charge Navnath Ban dismissed Raut’s claims as politically motivated and baseless, asserting that the party relies on the loyalty and mandate of its elected representatives rather than coercive tactics.

Turning the accusation around, Ban questioned who had allegedly tapped the phones of Eknath Shinde and Uday Samant during the earlier Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government led by Uddhav Thackeray. The BJP’s response reflects the deep mistrust and bitterness that continue to define relations between former allies turned rivals.

The party has repeatedly emphasised that it has no reason to indulge in unethical practices, given its clear numerical advantage in the BMC along with its Mahayuti partners.

Shiv Sena (Shinde Faction) and Mahayuti’s Stand

Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, whose faction of the Shiv Sena is allied with the BJP, has maintained that the next Mumbai mayor will come from the Mahayuti alliance. He has hinted that the mayoral candidate may belong to the Shiv Sena faction led by him, framing it as a tribute to Bal Thackeray’s birth centenary and the party’s legacy.

Shinde’s camp has already relocated its 29 corporators to a luxury hotel in Mumbai, officially describing it as an “orientation workshop”. However, opposition parties view the move with suspicion, interpreting it as a strategy to keep corporators insulated from external influence during a politically sensitive period.

Strategic Importance of Collective Registration

Against this backdrop, Shiv Sena (UBT)’s decision to ensure a collective, highly visible registration of its corporators assumes added importance. It sends a clear message to both allies and adversaries that the party’s elected representatives remain united and disciplined.

The optics of all corporators travelling together from Sena Bhavan to the Konkan Commissioner’s Office are carefully crafted. In Maharashtra politics, symbolism often carries as much weight as numbers, and this move reinforces Uddhav Thackeray’s leadership at a time when his party is battling perceptions of vulnerability following the 2022 split.

Meeting with Raj Thackeray Signals Wider Calculations

Adding another layer to the political intrigue, Sanjay Raut recently met Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray, fuelling speculation about possible strategic understandings in the evolving civic equations. While no formal alliance has been announced, the meeting underscores Shiv Sena (UBT)’s efforts to explore every available avenue in a fragmented political landscape.

Raj Thackeray’s MNS, though electorally limited in the BMC polls, retains symbolic influence in Mumbai politics, particularly among Marathi-speaking voters. Any tacit understanding or issue-based support could have implications for the mayoral contest or future political alignments.

BMC: More Than Just a Civic Body

The battle for BMC control goes beyond municipal governance. Historically, dominance over the BMC has been a cornerstone of Shiv Sena’s political and financial strength. Losing control over Mumbai’s civic body represents not just an administrative setback but also a challenge to the party’s identity and influence in Maharashtra.

For the BJP, consolidating power in the BMC aligns with its broader strategy of expanding its footprint across urban local bodies and weakening regional parties. Control over the BMC would mark a symbolic and practical victory in India’s financial capital.

Legal and Procedural Dimensions Ahead

Following registration, attention will turn to the recognition of party groups, appointment of authorised whips and the scheduling of the mayoral election. Given the fractured nature of Maharashtra politics, legal challenges cannot be ruled out, particularly around issues of factional legitimacy and symbol recognition.

The Election Commission’s earlier recognition of the Eknath Shinde faction as the “real Shiv Sena” continues to shape political narratives, even though the civic elections have allowed both factions to contest separately. How these legal and political threads intersect in the BMC will be closely watched.

A Test of Leadership and Strategy

For Uddhav Thackeray, the corporators’ registration is an early but vital test of his leadership in the post-split era. Maintaining unity among 65 corporators in a highly charged environment will be crucial, especially as pressure mounts from rival alliances.

For the BJP and the Shinde-led Shiv Sena, the focus remains on translating numerical strength into actual control, while managing public perception amid allegations of unethical tactics.

Conclusion

The registration of 65 Shiv Sena (UBT) corporators at the Konkan Commissioner’s Office is more than a routine administrative step. It marks a defining moment in Mumbai’s evolving civic politics, setting the stage for an intense and closely watched mayor race.

As accusations, counter-accusations and strategic manoeuvres continue, the coming days are likely to witness heightened political drama. With Mumbai’s civic governance, political prestige and future power equations at stake, the BMC battle promises to remain at the centre of Maharashtra’s political discourse in the weeks ahead.

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