Who Will Wear Mumbai’s Mightiest Civic Crown?
The Mahayuti alliance really took the wind out of the opposition’s sails by winning the 2026 BMC elections with a whopping 118 seats, making the required 114 look insignificant. The BJP led the charge with a powerful 89 seats, while the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena contributed 29 seats to the alliance total, numbers that left little doubt and even less room for rivals to recover.
When Maharashtra Assembly Speaker Rahul Narwekar announced that the Mumbai Mayor would be “100 per cent from BJP,” speculation over power-sharing was instantly extinguished. The political landscape dramatically shifted. For the first time in nearly 30 years, the BJP will appoint its own Mayor, ending the Thackeray family’s long-standing dominance over Asia’s wealthiest municipal corporation.
Adding to the intrigue, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis hinted that the new Mayor will be “Hindu and Marathi,” sparking curiosity over who will ultimately wear Mumbai’s mightiest civic crown.
Shinde Holds The Cards: Power, Politics, And Betrayal In Mumbai’s BMC
Even though the BJP is firmly in control of the Mayor’s chair, it still needs the Shinde-led Shiv Sena’s 29 critical seats to maintain a complete grip on Mumbai’s civic crown. This reality gives Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde exceptional leverage, making him the kingmaker behind the scenes. Insiders point out that the real maneuvering will unfold over key positions such as the Standing Committee chairperson, who controls the BMC’s vast financial resources.
In public, however, Shinde projects modesty, declaring his goal is “making a difference in the lives of Mumbaikars” rather than chasing titles or lavish perks. But the opposition hasn’t let the story rest. Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Uddhav Thackeray has accused Shinde of orchestrating the BJP’s victory through what they call a “betrayal” of the original party.
On Mumbai’s high-stakes civic chessboard, power isn’t just in numbers, it’s in who knows how to wield them. The city is watching, and the coming weeks promise drama, deals, and perhaps a touch of revenge.