On Friday, the third round of talks was held at Shinde’s residence in Thane. (File Photo)
With the countdown to the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections having begun, the ruling Mahayuti, comprising the BJP and the Shiv Sena led by Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, has reached a broad consensus on seat-sharing, finalising agreement on nearly 200 of the 227 wards, while negotiations continue over the remaining 27 seats.
BJP’s Mumbai president Ameet Satam said it had been decided that the Mahayuti would contest all 227 seats in Mumbai. “There is already consensus on 200 seats. The decision on the remaining 27 seats is pending and will be taken based on the candidates and winability combinations,” Satam said, indicating that local factors and electoral viability would determine the final allocation.
The unresolved seats have triggered a series of high-level meetings among alliance leaders, with discussions stretching late into the night.
On Friday, the third round of talks was held at Shinde’s residence in Thane, underscoring the urgency of the negotiations as nomination deadlines approach.
The meeting was attended by senior leaders from both sides, including Shrikant Shinde, Uday Samant, BJP Maharashtra president Ravindra Chavan, BJP leader Niranjan Davkhare and Shiv Sena leader Naresh Mhaske.
Sources said discussions during the meeting were not limited to Mumbai alone but also covered seat-sharing arrangements in Thane, Kalyan-Dombivli and Navi Mumbai municipal corporations.
Even as the broad formula for Mumbai is said to be in place, with the BJP expected to contest 140 seats and the Shinde-led Shiv Sena 87 seats, alliance leaders are yet to put their seal on the final list.
The delay, according to party insiders, is partly strategic, as early declaration of candidates could trigger rebellion from aspirants denied tickets.
At the same time, the shrinking window for filing nomination papers has increased pressure on the Mahayuti leadership to conclude talks within the next couple of days, announce the final seat-sharing arrangement and begin the nomination process.
While Mumbai’s arithmetic is close to resolution, negotiations in Thane remain contentious, with the BJP seeking 40 to 45 seats, a demand the Shiv Sena has so far resisted.
The issue has been escalated to the state leadership, and further meetings involving Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis are expected before a final decision is taken.
In Pune, the Shiv Sena has demanded 35 seats, but the BJP has reportedly offered only 15, prompting a strong warning from Sena leaders and adding another layer of complexity to the Mahayuti’s civic poll strategy.
Despite the remaining friction, leaders from both parties have publicly expressed confidence that the next BMC mayor will be from the Mahayuti.
The alliance is keen to project unity and momentum, especially in Mumbai, where control of the civic body carries significant political and administrative weight.