Mumbai: Race for BMC mayor post heats up as Eknath Shinde stakes claim, Sanjay Raut alleges phone tapping

Mumbai: The fight for the mayor post in the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) in Mumbai took an interesting turn on Wednesday with the Shiv Sena faction led by Maharashtra deputy chief minister Eknath Shinde staking their claim while the Uddhav Thackeray faction claimed that the phones of the Mahayuti corporators are being “tapped”.

Nashik Politics: In the Nashik Municipal Corporation elections, the BJP has swept aside the Maha Vikas Aghadi and its allies, securing a clear majority on its own. The BJP alone has won 72 out of 122 seats, making it clear that a BJP mayor will be elected. While everyone was celebrating the victory, Shiv Sena (Uddhav Thackeray faction) MP Sanjay Raut stirred controversy by taunting the BJP.

Sanjay Raut posted a video on his X (formerly Twitter) account showing a conversation between Minister Girish Mahajan and BJP MLA Rahul Dhikale from the Nashik East assembly constituency, creating a sensation. This has once again fueled political accusations and counter-accusations even after the results.

The BJP won 72 seats on its own in Nashik. There are a total of 31 wards in Nashik. The result of ward number 30, group D, became a subject of particular discussion. BJP's Ajinkya Sane was elected from this ward. Sanjay Raut criticized the BJP by posting a video on X showing a conversation between MLA Rahul Dhikale and Minister Girish Mahajan regarding this result.

What did the MNS do?

Meanwhile, the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) has triggered frenzied post poll speculation by extending support to the Shiv Sena despite the fact that the two parties were on opposing sides of the political divide during the recent Maharashtra Civic Body Elections 2026. The Eknath Shinde faction of the Shiv Sena was part of the BJP-led Mahayuti allaince which had secured a landslide victory in the elections. The BJP had also created history by winning the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections in Mumbai for the first time. 

How did the MNS help the Shiv Sena?

The MNS, which is led by Raj Thackeray, has extended a helping hand to the Eknath Shinde action of the Shiv Sena in the Kalyan–Dombivli Municipal Corporation. This announcement was made by former MNS MLA Pramod (Raju) Patil on behalf of the five MNS corporators in the corporation. Earlier on Wednesday, all 53 Shiv Sena corporators visited the Konkan Divisional Commissioner’s office in Navi Mumbai to formally register their group. At the same venue, the five MNS corporators completed their own procedural formalities and officially declared support for the Shiv Sena, marking a notable alignment between traditionally competing parties for the civic body’s power structure.

How has the Maharashtra Civic Body Elections result impacted the KDMC polls? 

Following the elections to 29 corporations in Maharashtra, including the BMC, a major political shift has been witnessed after the Kalyan-Dombivli Municipal Corporation (KDMC) elections. The Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS), generally considered an opponent of the Shiv Sena, has now announced its support for the Shinde faction of the Shiv Sena. This announcement was made by former MNS MLA Pramod (Raju) Patil on behalf of the party's five corporators. Earlier, all 53 Shiv Sena corporators reached the Konkan Divisional Commissioner's office in Navi Mumbai and formally registered their faction.

At the same location, the five MNS corporators also completed their formalities and announced their support for the Shiv Sena. This is considered a significant development in terms of the municipal corporation's power structure. Political analysts believe that the Shiv Sena is either trying to form a government in the municipal corporation on its own or strengthening its bargaining position in a potential coalition.