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.

Union minister Nitin Gadkari on Sunday said leadership responsibilities should gradually pass on to the younger generation, with senior leaders stepping aside once systems begin functioning smoothly.

Speaking at a press conference in Nagpur, Gadkari underlined the need for generational change while addressing the Advantage Vidarbha–Khasdar Audhyogik Mahotsav, an initiative conceptualised by him and organised by Ashish Kale, president of the Association for Industrial Development (AID).

Gadkari, 68, said involving youth in leadership roles is essential for sustainable progress. He pointed out that Kale has actively engaged young participants in the Advantage Vidarbha initiative, calling it a positive step towards long-term development.

“I believe that gradually, the generation should also change,” Gadkari said. Referring to his long association with Kale’s family, he added that once a system starts running efficiently, senior leaders should step back and allow the next generation to take charge.

The Union minister, who serves as the chief mentor of AID, said this is the third consecutive year of the Advantage Vidarbha expo, scheduled to be held in Nagpur from February 6 to 8.

Highlighting Vidarbha’s economic strengths, Gadkari said the region has capable entrepreneurs across multiple sectors. He added that the three-day event aims to position Vidarbha as a growing industrial hub on India’s development map.

Gadkari also stressed that balanced growth depends on the combined strength of the industrial sector, agriculture and allied activities, and the service sector.

The Advantage Vidarbha expo will see participation from industries including textiles, plastics, minerals, coal, aviation, logistics, information technology, healthcare, pharmaceuticals, defence, real estate, renewable energy, and startups.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday said India’s Gen Z believes in the BJP’s development model, citing the party’s landmark victory in the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation elections, as he intensified his campaign in election-bound West Bengal.

Addressing a public meeting in Malda, the prime minister pointed to the BJP’s record performance in Mumbai’s civic polls, where the party emerged victorious in the BMC for the first time. He expressed confidence that voters in West Bengal would make a similar choice in the upcoming assembly elections, which are due in a few months.

Taking aim at the Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool government, Modi said in Bengali, “Ei sarkar palano dorkaar,” asserting that the state needs a change in government. He accused the Trinamool of corruption and alleged that public funds were being looted while central assistance was being blocked from reaching people in Bengal.

The prime minister said development in the state would accelerate only after the Trinamool is voted out and the BJP comes to power. He also accused the ruling party of shielding infiltrators, warning that strong action would be taken against infiltration if the BJP forms the government in the state.

Reassuring the Matua community and other persecuted refugees from neighbouring countries, Modi said they had nothing to fear, adding that the Citizenship Amendment Act offers them protection.