In the wake of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) election results, Congress MP and Mumbai Congress President Varsha Gaikwad has launched a sharp attack on Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, accusing him of lacking confidence in his own corporators.

Speaking to media, Gaikwad dismissed speculation about any defection within the Congress and questioned the decision by the Shinde-led Shiv Sena faction to move its newly elected corporators to a luxury hotel in Bandra.

Resort politics allegation after BMC polls

Calling it an unprecedented move in the city’s civic politics, Gaikwad alleged that “hotel and resort politics” has entered the BMC for the first time.

She said Shinde’s actions reflected fear that his corporators could switch sides. According to her, such steps exposed a trust deficit within the ruling Mahayuti alliance.

Gaikwad asserted that the Congress, despite a reduced tally, remains united and rooted among the people. She described the party’s 24 corporators as “24-carat gold,” underlining their loyalty and independence.

Congress dismisses defection speculation

Contrasting the two camps, Gaikwad said Congress corporators were moving freely across the city and staying connected with citizens, unlike those confined to hotels.

She also addressed statements by Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut, who had suggested that political equations could still change in the BMC. Gaikwad clarified that no discussions or negotiations were underway between the Congress and UBT regarding control of the civic body.

“There are no backdoor talks and no such initiative has even begun,” she said, rejecting rumours of a possible shift in power.

Internal dissent reflects democracy, says Gaikwad

Responding to questions on internal dissent within the Mumbai Congress, including demands for her resignation by senior leaders, Gaikwad maintained that such differences reflected internal democracy.

She said leaders in the Congress were free to express opinions, unlike other parties where dissent is not tolerated.

A proposal to construct a grand Ram temple inspired by Bengal’s cultural traditions has emerged in West Bengal’s Nadia district, with the project’s trustees asserting that it is not connected to electoral politics.

The temple, planned in Shantipur, will be based on the concept of “Bengali Ram” and draw heavily from the literary and devotional legacy of 15th-century poet Krittibas Ojha, who authored the Shri Ram Panchali, a Bengali retelling of the Sanskrit Ramayana. The work remains deeply rooted in Bengali households and religious practices.

The project has gained attention in recent weeks amid heightened political activity around religious and cultural constructions in the state. This comes shortly after Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee laid foundation stones for multiple religious-cultural initiatives, and days after a former Trinamool Congress (TMC) MLA laid the foundation for a mosque replica in Murshidabad.

Temple to be built on donated land, trust says

The Shri Krittibas Ram Mandir Trust, a registered religious and charitable organisation, is overseeing the construction. Trust members recently completed a final land survey, marking the formal beginning of the construction process.

Officials associated with the project said the temple will be built on 15 bighas of land donated by local residents Litan Bhattacharya and Pooja Banerjee. The estimated cost of the project is around Rs 100 crore, with completion targeted by 2028.

BJP MLA Arindam Bhattacharya, who serves as the trust’s president, said the initiative has been in progress since 2017 and is rooted in Bengal’s Bhakti movement tradition.

“Shantipur is closely associated with devotional traditions. Krittibas Ojha connected Lord Ram to Bengal’s emotional and cultural landscape. The Ram he envisioned was deeply Bengali in character,” Bhattacharya said.

He rejected suggestions that the temple was politically motivated, stating that the project had no electoral intent. He added that contributions and suggestions were welcome from all quarters, including the state government.

Political reactions emerge

The proposal has drawn criticism from the ruling TMC. Party leader Jayprakash Majumder questioned Bhattacharya’s role in the project and alleged potential misuse of funds.

Majumder also claimed that the BJP does not genuinely embrace Krittibas Ojha’s interpretation of Ram, describing the project as politically motivated. Bhattacharya has not responded publicly to these allegations beyond reiterating that the initiative is cultural and religious in nature.

Determined to rule out any possibility of defections after the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation elections, Shiv Sena chief and Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde has decided to complete all formal documentation related to the party’s newly elected corporators at the earliest.

Soon after the results were declared, the 29 corporators of the Shinde-led Shiv Sena were moved to a five-star hotel in Mumbai. The step, according to party sources, was aimed at preventing any attempts at poaching amid intense political negotiations over control of the country’s richest civic body.

Sources within the party said the leader of the Shiv Sena group in the BMC is likely to be named today. All paperwork related to the corporators will also be completed to eliminate any scope for defection.

Young faces in contention for key roles

Party insiders indicated that several young but experienced corporators are being considered for senior positions within the civic body. Names such as Yamini Jadhav, Trishna Vishwasrao and Amey Ghole are under discussion.

The BMC elections, held after a gap of several years, saw the BJP emerge as the single largest party with 89 seats, while the Shinde-led Shiv Sena secured 29. The alliance has the numbers to cross the majority mark in the 227-member House.

The Opposition alliance, comprising the Shiv Sena (UBT), Maharashtra Navnirman Sena and the Sharad Pawar-led NCP faction, together won 72 seats. The Congress secured 24 wards, AIMIM eight and the Samajwadi Party two. Even if all Opposition parties come together, their combined strength would fall short of a majority.

Mayor post emerges as key flashpoint

With numbers on their side, discussions between the BJP and the Shinde-led Shiv Sena are expected to focus on the mayor’s post. The Shiv Sena has traditionally held the mayor’s position in the BMC, and Shinde is keen on retaining it to reinforce his claim as the leader of the original party.

The BJP, meanwhile, is also expected to stake its claim, as the civic body has never had a BJP mayor despite the party’s growing strength in Mumbai.

Reacting to the developments, Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray alleged that Shinde was wary of his ally. He said those who had once broken away from a party could do so again.

Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Raut claimed several Shinde Sena corporators were new faces and suggested they would not support a BJP mayor. He added that communication channels cannot be fully cut off, even if corporators are kept together.

Responding to the Opposition’s remarks, Shinde loyalist Raju Waghmare said the Sena (UBT) must accept the election outcome. He asserted that the corporators were kept together only to ensure that all formalities were completed smoothly without external pressure.

Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said that a final decision on the mayor’s post would be taken after discussions among alliance partners and other stakeholders.