The race for the Mumbai mayor’s post has grown fierce. Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde has claimed the post for his faction of the Shiv Sena. The Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT) has hit back with allegations of phone tapping.

These events follow the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation elections. Authorities held the polls after a four-year delay. The BJP-led Mahayuti alliance emerged ahead but fell short of a single-party majority.

The BJP won 89 seats in the 227-member BMC. No party crossed the halfway mark.

Shinde seeks mayor’s post in Bal Thackeray centenary year

Shinde linked the mayor’s post to Bal Thackeray’s legacy. He said a Shiv Sena mayor would honour the party founder. Bal Thackeray’s birth centenary begins next year.

On Monday, Shinde said Sena workers support the demand. He also said Mumbai would have a Mahayuti mayor.

"Balasaheb Thackeray's birth centenary year starts from January 23. Some Shivsainiks (party activists) have the feeling that a Shiv Sena mayor should be installed in the BMC," Shinde was quoted by PTI as saying.

He added that the alliance would appoint Mahayuti mayors where the BJP and Shiv Sena contested together. Shinde stressed respect for the people’s mandate. He reminded that the allies fought the Mumbai polls together.

Sanjay Raut alleges phone tapping and surveillance

Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut raised fresh charges. He claimed the ruling alliance tapped phones of newly elected corporators. He said party workers kept watch on them.

Raut alleged that corporators stayed “locked” in a luxury hotel. He also said Delhi was deciding Mumbai’s mayor. He called it an insult to Maharashtra and criticised the Shinde-led Sena.

"BJP workers are monitoring (movements) of every corporator of the party. The BJP is also tapping phones of its own corporators," Raut was quoted by PTI as saying.

He added that phones of Shiv Sena corporators in the hotel were also being tapped.

BJP rejects claims and counters Raut

The BJP dismissed the allegations. Maharashtra BJP media in-charge Navnath Ban denied any wrongdoing.

"We don't need phone tapping, but Raut should clarify who was tapping Eknath Shinde's and Uday Samant's phones when Maha Vikas Aghadi (led by Uddhav Thackeray) was in power. We have strong support from corporators, and are not engaged in such activities,” Ban said.

Shinde Sena corporators register as a group

Before leaving the Bandra hotel, Shinde’s 29 corporators took a key step. They registered as a group with the Konkan Divisional Commissioner. The process is mandatory after elections.

A party functionary said Shinde guided the corporators during their stay. PTI reported the details.

Observers also noted speculation. Parties often isolate corporators to prevent poaching. The risk rises when no party has a clear majority.

BMC results change Mumbai’s political landscape

The results reshaped civic politics. BJP–Shiv Sena alliance ended nearly three decades of Thackeray family control over the BMC.

The BJP won 89 seats. Shinde-led Shiv Sena won 29. Together, they secured a clear majority.

The rival Shiv Sena (UBT) won 65 seats. Its ally, the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena, won 6. Mumbai will not have a mayor chosen by Uddhav Thackeray’s faction.