Nirupam pushes 90–100 seats for Shiv Sena as Mahayuti mayor looms in Mumbai
Nirupam pushes 90–100 seats for Shiv Sena as Mahayuti mayor looms in Mumbai
Sanjay Nirupam calls for 90–100 seats for Shiv Sena in BMC polls, asserting a Mahayuti mayor will emerge amid ongoing talks with the BJP.
In Mumbai, Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Nirupam pressed for a commanding result in the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) polls, insisting the party should win 90–100 seats, including wards won by the undivided Shiv Sena in 2017. The demand comes as talks with the BJP to forge an alliance for the BMC contest gain momentum. Nirupam framed the goal as a strategic move to ensure a strong fight against rivals, signaling that the Mahayuti (grand alliance) could set the tone for the city’s leadership.
Addressing a press conference, Nirupam argued that the outcome should reflect a clear majority for Shiv Sena within the alliance, asserting that Mumbai will have a Mahayuti mayor and that a “Mamu” or “Khan” would not be the one occupying the post. He warned against any attempt to bypass the electoral formula by misapplying other electoral precedents, saying the Maharashtra Vidhan Sabha criteria should be applied to the BMC polls for consistency.
Nirupam highlighted the complexities of the BMC landscape, noting that of the 84 former corporators from the undivided Shiv Sena, around 60–65 had joined the Shiv Sena led by Eknath Shinde, with others from Congress and different parties also shifting loyalties. He suggested that this realignment could be leveraged to secure the 90–100-seat target and to present a united front against the BJP in the municipal elections, which feature 227 seats in total. He also pointed to ongoing alliance talks as a pathway to a robust, mutually advantageous arrangement for the city’s governance.
The broader political context includes reported discussions about alliances involving Shiv Sena (UBT) and other players in Maharashtra, but Nirupam’s emphasis remained squarely on delivering a decisive BMC mandate for the Shiv Sena within the Mahayuti framework. With elections to 29 civic bodies in Maharashtra clocking in around mid-January, the clash for control of Mumbai’s municipal body is shaping up to be a high-stakes test of party loyalties and urban governance priorities.
