Mumbai’s political landscape is being closely watched amid negotiations within the ruling Mahayuti alliance over the Mumbai Mayor’s post following the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections,
with reports suggesting that the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena faction is seeking a two-and-a-half-year power-sharing arrangement despite the BJP emerging as the single largest party.
The BJP secured 89 seats in the BMC elections and has staked a strong claim to the Mayor’s post.Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has said the Mayor will be from the BJP. However, reports of a proposed rotational formula have added complexity to the ongoing talks within the alliance. News18 Hindi cited sources as indicating that the Shinde camp is keen to maintain unity as discussions continue.
In the opposition camp, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut has alleged that councillors from the Shinde faction have been confined to prevent defections, a charge the Shinde group has denied, describing the arrangement as a “training camp” for newly elected representatives.
The situation presents a balancing act for BJP-Shinde Mahayuti. While a refusal to consider the rotation proposal could test alliance cohesion, accepting it could blunt the BJP’s electoral advantage as the largest party in the civic body. Political observers say clarity is likely only after Fadnavis returns from the World Economic Forum in Davos and alliance leaders hold formal consultations.
Raut’s Backhanded Compliment For Fadnavis
Amid the ongoing negotiations, Sanjay Raut’s recent comments have added a fresh political dimension. In a social media post, Raut praised Fadnavis’s engagement with global investors in Davos and compared his reception to the international standing of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, suggesting the BJP leader could be moving towards a larger national role in Delhi.
पंतप्रधान मोदी यांचे परदेशात स्वागत होते अगदी तसेच स्वागत मुख्यमंत्री देवेंद्र फडणवीस यांचे झुरिच येथे करण्यात आले ही प्रत्येक मराठी माणसाला सुखावणारी गोष्ट आहे,
महापालिका निवडणुकीत भरघोस विजय प्राप्त केल्यानंतर फडणवीस यांचा प्रवास दिल्लीतील सर्वोच्च पदासाठी सुरू झालेला दिसतोय! pic.twitter.com/j7UCq44KrZ— Sanjay Raut (@rautsanjay61) January 18, 2026
Analysts believe the remarks could fuel unease within alliance ranks while simultaneously enhancing Fadnavis’s profile within the BJP.
Mumbai Mayor Talks: What We Know So Far
- What is being discussed within Mahayuti over the BMC Mayor’s post? The BJP wants the Mayor’s post for the full term, while reports suggest the Shinde-led Shiv Sena faction is seeking a two-and-a-half-year rotational arrangement.
- What did Sanjay Raut say about Devendra Fadnavis? He praised Fadnavis’s Davos engagements and suggested the CM he could be headed for a larger role in Delhi.
- Have councillors from the Shinde faction been confined? Raut has alleged confinement; the Shinde camp says councillors are attending a training programme.
- When will clarity emerge on the Mayor’s post? After Fadnavis returns from Davos and alliance leaders meet.
