The BJP-led Mahayuti is racing to win the mayoral post in the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) as Eknath Shinde's Shiv Sena has sifted its newly elected corporators to a hotel amid fear of poaching.

The intense deliberations are underway as Uddhav Thackeray has said that it remained his dream to see a Shiv Sena (UBT) mayor in Mumbai, adding that it could still come true "if god willing." To this, CM Devendra Fadnavis has replied sarcastically, saying, "Who will become the mayor, when the mayor will be elected, where it will be decided, and for how many years, these decisions will be taken together by me, Eknath Shinde, and our party leaders. There is no dispute at all".

What is brewing in Mumbai?

The war of words and claims of being in the mayoral race by both sides persists despite a clear win for BMC, because the margin with the Mahayuti remains thin. Shinde's Sena, which has won 29 wards, is therefore indulging in resort politics to protect its corporators before the vote for electing the mayor.

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What is BMC number game?

BMC has a total strength of 227. In the recently concluded polls, the BJP emerged as the single largest party with 89 seats. Shinde's Sena has won 29 seats, taking their tally to 118, a comfortable majority.

However, only 114 votes are required to win the mayoral vote, and hence, the majority of 4 seats is very thin.

Why is it impossible to snatch mayor's seat from Mahayuti?

Despite a majority with the Mahayuti, it is highly unlikely for the opposition to snatch the BMC mayoral post.

Shiv Sena (UBT), the second largest party, has 65 seats. It's ally MNS has 6 seats. Congress has won 24 seats alone. Uniting under the Maha Vikas Ahadi (MVA), an alliance at the state level, they collectively have 95 seats, 19 fewer than the majority.

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To make their own mayor, Sena UBT will have to unite every small party, including AIMIM with 8 seats, NCP with 3 seats, Samajwadi Party with 2 seats, NCP-SP with 1 seat and others.

Even after that, 5 seats will be needed. Another way for Uddhav Thackeray is to break away at least 28 members from the Shinde camp, a hard nut to crack. As the resort politics has taken centre stage, the possibility of such a development remains less.