Is resort politics back? After BMC polls, Shinde camps corporators to prevent poaching

In Thane, Shinde’s home turf, the Shiv Sena won 75 seats, improving on its previous tally of 67.

• Shinde's Shiv Sena moves corporators to hotel to avoid poaching before mayor vote.
• Mahayuti claims BMC majority, targets mayor posts in Mumbai and beyond
• Shinde says focus is on making Mumbai a global financial and fintech hub

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Amid heightened political activity following the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections, the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena has moved to secure its newly elected corporators ahead of the mayoral election, according to multiple media reports.

Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde has reportedly directed corporators from his faction to stay together at a five-star hotel, likely the Taj Lands End in Bandra, until the mayor is elected. The corporators are expected to remain there for at least three days as a precaution against possible poaching attempts, reported Times Now on Saturday.

The move comes as negotiations intensify over power equations in the country’s richest civic body, where the mayor’s post carries significant political and administrative clout. Party leaders are expected to hold strategy meetings at the venue to ensure unity and prevent cross-voting, signalling a return of so-called “resort politics” in Mumbai.

Moneycontrol could not independently verify the report.

Late Friday evening, Shinde said the BJP-led Mahayuti’s strong performance in elections to 29 municipal corporations reflected public approval of the state government’s development agenda and a rejection of what he described as emotion-driven politics.

“Our agenda was development. Some parties fought on emotional issues. The people have chosen the development brand,” Shinde told reporters in Thane, thanking voters for the mandate.

Taking a swipe at Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray and Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) president Raj Thackeray, Shinde said voters had rejected leaders who were in power for 25 years.

In Thane, Shinde’s home turf, the Shiv Sena won 75 seats, improving on its previous tally of 67. The BJP secured 28 seats, the NCP nine, the Sharad Pawar-led NCP (SP) 12, and the AIMIM five seats. The Shiv Sena (UBT) managed just one seat, while one was won by an independent candidate.

Shinde said the Mahayuti, comprising the BJP and the Shiv Sena, had crossed the majority mark in the 227-member BMC and would have mayors not only in Mumbai but across several municipal corporations in the state.

Reiterating the government’s focus on Mumbai, Shinde said the aim was to transform the city into a global financial hub. “Mumbai is the country’s financial capital and must meet international standards. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has repeatedly spoken about making Mumbai a fintech capital, and we are working towards that goal,” he said.

On future political equations, Shinde asserted that the Shiv Sena-BJP alliance was rooted in the ideology of Balasaheb Thackeray and was not temporary. “Our ideologies are aligned and we will not compromise on them,” he added.