Mumbai mayor highlights: Ekanth Shinde says Mumbai to get Mahayuti mayor amid suspense

• Leaders across political parties expressed doubts over who would be the mayor of Mumbai after the Shinde Sena guarded its corporators at the Taj Lands End hotel in Bandra ‘almost like prisoners’ amid last-minute defection and poaching fears.
• Uddhav Sena leader Sanjay Raut reminded the BJP that it doesn't have complete mandate in the BMC. Addressing reporters, Raut said: “... Narendra Modi wants BJP's Mayor, but he did not explain how.”
• After buzz over Shinde Sena being moved to Taj Lands End amid poaching fears, Sanjay Raut said that he has it on good authority that the BJP will also move its corporators to a “safer place”.
• Deputy chief minister of Maharashtra Ajit Pawar met newly elected corporators and party workers on Monday afternoon.
• Union minister Ramdas Athawale said that Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) should get the mayor's post in Mumbai after it emerged as the largest party in the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation polls.
• Maharashtra deputy chief minister Eknath Shinde quashed all claims of potential new political equations as he affirmed that Mumbai will have a Mahayuti mayor and that Shiv Sena would not take any decision that goes against the people's mandate.
• The government of Maharashtra said that a lottery system would be used to decide the mayoral post on Thursday, January 22.
  The lottery would determine the category for which the mayor's post will be reserved such as general, women, SC, ST, and OBC categories, after which eligible candidates would file their nominations.
  After this, an election would be conducted in a special meeting of the elected corporators of the municipal corporation and the candidate who secures votes of more than half of the total strength of the House is elected mayor.
• The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) asked its newly elected corporators to not leave the metropolis for the next 8 to 10 days in view of the mayoral reservation and other aspects related to the post.

Mumbai mayor Live updates: All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) leader Imtiaz Jameel on Monday claimed that the ruling Shiv Sena had contacted his party for forging a post-poll alliance in a civic body in Maharashtra adding that the proposal was quickly rejected.

Jameel noted that the AIMIM led by Asaduddin Owaisi is willing to step into alliance with all parties except for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Shiv Sena in certain municipal corporations, if it receives a respectful proposal, reported news agency PTI.

Mumbai mayor Live updates: In a recent announcement on Monday, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) asked its newly elected corporators to not leave the metropolis for the next 8 to 10 days in view of the mayoral reservation and other aspects related to the post.

“The party has instructed newly elected corporators to remain in Mumbai as it may take eight to ten days to form the municipal corporation. Important developments are expected after mayoral reservation is declared,” news agency PTI reported quoting a BJP leader as saying

Mumbai mayor Live updates: After bagging victory across 29 municipal corporations and 100 seats in Maharashtra's civic polls, the All India Majlis e Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) led by Asaduddin Owaisi has begun candidate interviews for the state's Zilla Parishad polls, set to be held on February 5.

Ticket aspirants are currently being interviewed in the office of former MP Imtiaz Jaleel, news agency PTI reported quoting AIMIM leader Shareque Naqshabandi as saying.

“After our big win in the civic polls, there is enthusiasm among our workers so we have decided to contest polls to 12 ZPs,” he said.

Mumbai mayor Live updates: The Congress on Monday appointed three-time corporator Ashraf Azmi as the party's group leader of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC).

Congress is yet to convene a meeting of the candidates who lost in the civic polls by narrow margins to discuss the situation and prepare for future challenges, news agency PTI reported quoting Congress MLA Amin Patel.

Ashraf Azmi, Congress' new group leader of BMC won from Kurla.

The party allied with Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi (VBA), RSP, and RPI (Gavai) as it participated in the BMC polls, where it recorded the lowest tally in history, managing to bag a mere 24 seats in the massive 227-member BMC.

Mumbai mayor Live updates: Maharashtra deputy chief minister Eknath Shinde on Monday said that a section of Shiv Sainiks believes that having a Shiv Sena mayor would be a mark of respect to Bal Thackeray as 2026 marks his 100th birth anniversary.

Shinde made this remark after reported tussles with ally Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

Shinde had earlier said that BMC would have a Mahayuti mayor as he quashed claims of new political equations.

"Balasaheb Thackeray's birth centenary year starts from January 23. Some Shivsainiks (party activists) have the feeling that a Shiv Sena mayor should be installed in the BMC," news agency PTI reported quoting Shinde as saying.

The remarks are viewed as Shinde indirectly staking a claim to the Mumbai mayor's post.

Mumbai mayor Live updates: The lottery would determine the category for which the mayor's post will be reserved such as general, women, SC, ST, and OBC categories, after which eligible candidates would file their nominations.

After this, an election would be conducted in a special meeting of the elected corporators of the municipal corporation and the candidate who secures votes of more than half of the total strength of the House is elected mayor.

In Maharashtra, mayors are elected by corporators, and the post is subject to reservation by rotation.

Mumbai mayor Live updates: The government of Maharashtra on Monday said that a lottery system would be used to decide the mayoral post on Thursday, January 22.

The Urban Development Department has issued an order stating that the draw of lots will be held at the state secretariat, news agency PTI reported.

Mumbai mayor Live updates: In a recent setback to Eknath Shinde led Shiv Sena, one of the party's leader, several workers and relatives of sitting members of the Badlapur Municipal Council joined the BJP.

The BJP on Sunday inducted Praveen Raut, the deputy chief of the Sena's Badlapur city unit, Ganesh Lamture, the husband of a Shiv Sena corporator, and a large number of Shiv Sainiks into the fold, reported news agency PTI.

Raut's wife, Sheetal Raut, and his sister-in-law, Vijaya Raut, are Shiv Sena corporators.

Reacting to the development, BJP MLA Kisan Kathore said that the leaders have joined the saffron party to put an end to dynastic politics within the Shiv Sena.

Mumbai mayor Live updates: Maharashtra deputy chief minister Eknath Shinde on Monday quashed all claims of potential new political equations as he affirmed that Mumbai will have a Mahayuti mayor and that Shiv Sena would not take any decision that goes against the people's mandate.

“Similarly, mayors of the Mahayuti alliance will be installed in those civic bodies where the Shiv Sena and BJP had contested the elections together,” news agency PTI reported quoting Shinde as saying.

Shinde's remarks come after politicians engaged in an intense debate over shifting of the 29 elected corporators of Shiv Sena to Mumbai's Taj Lands End hotel post the Shiv Sena alliance securing a narrow majority at Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) polls.

Amid heightened speculations of Shinde being keen to acquire the post of BMC mayor, he said that since Shiv Sena and BJP had fought the Mumbai civic elections as an alliance, the Mahayuti's candidate would become the mayor.

“The same decision would be followed in Thane, Kalyan-Dombivli, Ulhasnagar and other municipal corporations where the alliance contested jointly,” Shinde said.

Mumbai mayor Live updates: Union minister Ramdas Athawale on Monday said that Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) should get the mayor's post in Mumbai after it emerged as the largest party in the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation polls.

Noting that the mayor's post is given to the party which wins maximum number of seats, Republican Party of India (A) president and Union Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment Athawale stressed on why BJP should fill the mayor's post.

The BJP secured a win across 89 seats in the 227-member Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation. Eknath Shinde's Shiv Sena bagged 29 seats.

“It is also a fact that without Shiv Sena's support, BJP can't appoint its mayor. I am confident Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Deputy CM Shinde would sort out the issue after discussions,” PTI reported quoting Athawale as saying.

He added that Congress had no future under Rahul Gandhi.

Citing the mere 24 seats won by Congress, he said that the party is no more ‘in the picture’ and that it will never get a chance to come back to power till NDA continues to exist.

Mumbai mayor Live updates: Almost two days after municipal polls concluded in Maharashtra, a clash broke out between supporters of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLA Mahesh Choughule and Konark Vikas Aghadi (KVA) leader and former mayor Vilas Patil on Sunday.

The incident, that escalated to stone-pelting, took place near the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Chowk in Bhiwandi near Thane on Sunday, news agency ANI reported.

Police said that a clash occurred between supporters of two leaders. The workers were dispersed by the police, and the situation is currently under control.

BJP MLA Mahesh Choughule said that President of the Konark Vikas Aghadi Vilas Patil wanted that no one should enter his area. Choughule also alleged Patil of attacking children.

“The elections are over and yesterday also he attacked some poor children. Today, also around 5 pm, two children were beaten and then stones were pelted at my office, the police, my supporters were also attacked,” Choughule said.

Mumbai mayor Live updates: Congress leader Varsha Gaikwad on Monday alleged that the recent Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) polls witnessed serious attacks on the democratic process, that included pressure on candidates to withdraw from the fray, distribution of money, and irregularities during vote counting.

“Despite these obstacles, Congress workers and candidates fought bravely and stood firm for democratic values,” PTI reported quoting Gaikwad as she met the newly elected corporators.

In the BMC polls, Congress hit a historic low, with a win in just 24 seats in the massive 227-member BMC. The party had allied with Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi (VBA), RSP, and RPI (Gavai).

Before 2026, the party had secured just 31 seats in the 2017 BMC elections.

Mumbai mayor Live updates: Member of Legislative Council under the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Sandip Joshi on Monday announced political retirement.

The 55-year-old leader, who is a close aide of Fadnavis and Gadkari, said that he is choosing ‘voluntary’ retirement. “I am 55 years old and I realised that I am not like the other 55-year-old politicians from other parties. The party had instilled responsibility on me during the BMC polls, so I could not submit my resignation then. Now that it is over, I have decided to retire,” Joshi said affirming that he does not have any hard feelings for his party.

Mumbai mayor Live updates: Deputy chief minister of Maharashtra Ajit Pawar on Monday afternoon met the newly elected corporators and party workers.

Mumbai mayor Live updates: Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut on Monday alleged that he Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena has confined its winning candidates in Mumbai's Taj Lands End Hotel almost like prisoners, questioning what Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis and the BJP are afraid of.

Raut's remarks follow his earlier claims in which he said that several new faces among the corporators are vouching for a non-BJP leader, news agency PTI reported.

"Narendra Modi wants the BJP's Mayor, but he did not explain how. The BJP does not have a complete mandate. Shinde Sena's winning candidates are being kept in the Taj Lands End Hotel, almost like prisoners. The hotel has turned into a jail. Despite having the Centre's government and a strong CM, Devendra Fadnavis, in Maharashtra, these corporators remain locked up. Why are they so afraid?" Raut argued.

Mumbai mayor Live updates: When asked if Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena was demanding a sharing of the mayorship, Maharashtra minister Uday Samant reportedly said, “All parties that come to power feel they must have their own mayor.” Sena sources said that since the birth centenary year of Sena founder Bal Thackeray will start on January 23, they wanted a Sena mayor this time.

Mumbai mayor Live updates: Once a party or alliance forms a majority in the BMC, the elected corporators collectively decide who will hold the mayor post. The process is similar to that by which the prime minister or the chief ministers are elected from the elected members of the concerned legislature.

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) took place last week after nearly four years, and the contest was three-cornered among the BJP–Shiv Sena, the Shiv Sena (UBT)–MNS, and the Congress–VBA alliances.

Voting took place across 227 wards, with approximately 1,700 candidates contesting.

Results were announced a day later and the BJP won 89, Shiv Sena 29 and the Uddhav Sena 65 seats the civic body.

Mumbai mayor Live updates: Amid chatter over Shinde Sena being moved to a hotel amid poaching fears after BMC polls, Uddhav Sena MP Sanjay Raut has now claimed that he has it on good authority that the BJP will also move its corporators to a “safer place”.

“Shinde has already shifted his corporators to a five-star hotel and, as per my information, the BJP is also planning to move its corporators to a safer place. Who is afraid of whom? You are the government,” Raut was quoted as saying by news agency PTI.

Mumbai mayor Live updates: Despite a Mahayuti sweep at the BMC and the alliance crossing the majority mark of 114 at the civic body, fears of poaching and last-minute deflections seems to have triggered the Shinde Sena's move to camp up its corporators at a hotel in Bandra. This is because the victory margin is slim with just 4 seats more than the required majority. This means even if a few corporators decide to switch sides, the tables could turn at the BMC.

Mumbai mayor Live updates: Fresh visuals from the Taj Lands End hotel in Mumbai's Bandra have emerged. All the newly-elected Shinde Sena corporators are camped up here.

Mumbai mayor Live updates: Maharashtra deputy chief minister Eknath Shinde met 29 corporators from his party at Taj Land's End Hotel in Mumbai's Bandra on Sunday. Shinde said Mumbai would have a Mahayuti mayor, adding that neighbouring civic bodies such as Kalyan-Dombivli would also follow suit.

Mumbai mayor Live updates: Reacting to Shinde Sena corporators being moved to a hotel in Bandra, UBT Sena MP Sanjay Raut asked on Monday why the parties were “afraid”.

“Despite having a strong Chief Minister like Devendra Fadnavis and the Home Minister in Maharashtra, they are keeping their own corporators confined in hotels like prisoners. This shows fear. The Shinde faction does not even have 30 corporators, yet they talk about forming the Mayor. Let them try. Shiv Sena (UBT) is still strong and ready to challenge them,” Raut said.