Ramdas Athawale, Union Minister and leader of the Republican Party of India, said on Friday that the next mayor of Mumbai should come from the Mahayuti alliance as talks over seat sharing for the 2026 Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation elections continue.
Mumbai mayor Mahayuti stakes and seat sharing tensions
Speaking to ANI, Athawale reiterated that the RPI will remain part of the Mahayuti alliance and will support the formation of a civic body led by the coalition. He said his party intends to contest 20 wards in the BMC elections and will support BJP and Shiv Sena candidates in other areas, while contesting some seats independently.
“Mumbai’s mayor should be from our Mahayuti,” Athawale told reporters, adding that the Republican Party had taken a firm decision to remain with the ruling alliance for the municipal polls. “We will stay with the Mahayuti in this election, and to make a mayor of the Mahayuti, the Republican Party will stay with the BJP, Shiv Sena, and NCP. My party has taken this decision.”
The comments follow Athawale’s earlier criticism that the BJP had marginalised the RPI during seat-sharing discussions. He said the reunion of the BJP and Shiv Sena reduced opportunities for his party and that RPI representatives were not included in initial talks. Athawale claimed he was informed late that his party had been allotted just six seats.
Observers say the dispute highlights the friction that can arise when larger partners in an alliance seek to consolidate influence at the expense of smaller allies. Control of the mayoralty and dominance in the BMC carry symbolic and practical weight, affecting local administration, project approvals and political visibility across Mumbai’s 227 wards.
After his earlier remarks, BJP MLC Pravin Darekar met Athawale and sought to soothe tensions, saying the RPI chief was not upset and would be treated with respect. Darekar told reporters that Athawale’s participation in the alliance and his dignity would be ensured.
Political analysts note that municipal elections are closely watched for the signals they send about broader state and national trends. A united Mahayuti front in Mumbai would provide the coalition with a platform to showcase governance credentials and outreach to diverse voter bases ahead of larger electoral contests.
Polling for 29 municipal corporations across the state, including Mumbai, Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad, is scheduled for 15 January, with counting on 16 January. The near-term focus for the Mahayuti will be to finalise seat distributions, manage rivalries among partners and present a coherent campaign in key wards.
For the RPI, remaining within the Mahayuti appears to be a strategic choice: it secures the party a role in a likely ruling coalition at the civic level while allowing it to preserve local influence by contesting a select number of wards directly. Whether that balance will hold as the election approaches remains to be seen.
Key Takeaways:
- RPI leader Ramdas Athawale says the next Mumbai mayor should be from the Mahayuti alliance, signalling continued support for the ruling coalition.
- The Republican Party will contest 20 BMC seats and back BJP and Shiv Sena on others while retaining the option to contest some wards separately.
- Athawale accused the BJP of sidelining the RPI in seat sharing negotiations but leaders say the alliance remains intact ahead of the polls.
- Polling for 29 municipal corporations including Mumbai is set for 15 January with counting on 16 January.
