MUMBAI – In a sharp critique of Maharashtra’s political maneuvering, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut questioned how the BJP could possibly install a mayor when Eknath Shinde’s faction’s victorious corporators are holed up in a hotel. Speaking to reporters on Monday, Raut dismissed claims of a BJP mayor as baseless, pointing out the lack of clear majority in the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections.
‘No party secured a outright majority in the BMC polls,’ Raut emphasized. ‘Yet, there’s this audacious claim that BJP will produce a mayor. How? No one can explain.’ He painted a picture of fragility, suggesting any such mayor would be propped up on ‘crutches,’ destined for irrelevance soon after.
Raut highlighted the absurdity of Shinde’s 20-25 corporators retreating to a hotel post-results. ‘What message are they sending to allies? More importantly, hotel guests are complaining of feeling imprisoned,’ he said. This tactic raises serious questions about trust and transparency in Maharashtra politics.
With BJP already holding the chief minister’s post and running the state government, Raut demanded clarity. ‘Why hide corporators in hotels if everything is secure? What’s the fear?’ He contrasted this with his own party’s open meetings at Matoshree, underscoring a fearless approach.
The public deserves answers, Raut asserted. Maharashtra’s voters need the full story on these fears driving such secretive strategies. As alliances shift in the hung BMC house, Raut’s barbs signal intensifying battles ahead for Mumbai’s civic leadership.