Mumbai, 17 Jan (HS): The Shiv Sena (Eknath Shinde) 29 candidates

who won elections in Mumbai have been kept at Taj Lands and Hotel in Bandra

suburb in Mumbai. With the possibility of Shinde bargaining for half of the Mayor’s term for his party and the

fear of defection of elected members to support Uddhav and Raj Thackeray capturing

the municipal corporation, they will be confined to the hotel for at least

three days.

The Bharatiya Janata Party and Shiv Sena alliance holds

majority in the 277 seats Mumbai Municipal Corporation. BJP with 89 and Shiv

Sena with 29 have a 118 seats, just four more than the required 114 for a simple

majority. On the other hands Thackeray brothers have72 - 65 of UBT and six of

MNS. With the 24 candidates of Congress and others they could pose threat to

BJP-SS alliance. Thackeray brothers trying to lure some candidates from Shiv

Sena’s Eknath Shinde group cannot be ruled out.

Shinde might raise demand for half the term of Mayor

for his party and key positions in the municipal corporation. Shinde has a good

bargaining power as he could convince BJP for 90 seats in Mumbai, when BJP was

ready for 40 to 50 seats. This being the birth centenary year of Balasheb

Thackeray, emotional appear by Shinde is also a possibility. Thackeray brothers

can also use the emotional appeal to improve their strength.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Ajay Vasant Mardikar