3 minutes of readingFebruary 7, 2026 10:31 am
Just days before the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation votes to elect its mayor, Sharad Pawar-led NCP (SP)’s lone corporator Ajit Raorane on Friday extended his support to the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena, strengthening BJP-led Mahayuti’s position in the 227-member civic body and setting the stage for a high-stakes contest on February 11.
Raorane, elected from Malad ward 43, met Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde earlier this week and subsequently announced his decision to back the Shiv Sena in the BMC.
The PCN (SP) participated in the elections in alliance with the Sena (UBT) and the MNS in Bombay.
“I have joined hands with the Shiv Sena to ensure that I get enough funds for the development of my area. Eknath Shinde has assured me that there will be no shortage of funds. That is why I have extended my support to the Shiv Sena in the BMC,” Raorane said.
He clarified that he would not leave the Sharad Pawar-led NCP (SP) and would “always remain with Sharad Pawar”, but added that he had to “compromise” to secure funds and remain in a position of influence for his ward.
Raorane’s move comes days before nominations for the mayor’s position are accepted on February 7, with elections scheduled for February 11.
After the BMC elections, the seat distribution is: BJP (89), Shiv Sena (Shinde faction) (29), Shiv Sena (UBT) (65), Congress (24), AIMIM (8), MNS (6), NCP (Ajit Pawar faction) (3), Samajwadi Party (2) and NCP (SP) (1).
With Raorane’s support, the Mahayuti bloc has consolidated its numerical advantage ahead of the mayoral race. Ajit Pawar’s NCP is already aligned with the BJP and Shinde Sena.
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However, the mayoral election is unlikely to be unopposed.
The Shiv Sena (UBT) is expected to field a candidate for the February 11 elections and urge the Congress to support him as part of a united Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA).
A senior Sena (UBT) functionary said the party would try to mobilize more than 100 votes in the House to challenge the BJP-led Mahayuti. “The Sena (UBT) will not support the BJP in any way. The party can field a mayoral candidate and ask all like-minded parties to vote against the BJP. So far, we are only seeing what is happening between the Eknath Shinde-led Sena and the BJP. The opposition has more than 100 corporators. The Mahayuti majority is slim. We will show the strength of the opposition,” the official said.
There are 108 opposition corporations in the 227-member House. The Shiv Sena (UBT), with 65 corporators, is the second largest party after the BJP. Congress has 24 corporations.
A meeting of senior Sena (UBT) leaders was held at Matoshree, the residence of the Thackeray family, on Thursday to discuss the likely mayoral candidate. The party has also issued a whip ordering all its corporators to remain in Mumbai till the February 11 elections.
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According to party leaders, the Sena (UBT) is in touch with the Congress and has urged it to vote for its candidate as part of a united front of the MVA.
The appointment of the members of the standing committee would take place on February 16 and 17.
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