Maharashtra's Resort Politics Resurfaces After BMC Elections Victory
The recent BMC elections in Maharashtra have reignited the trend of resort politics, with the Shiv Sena, led by Eknath Shinde, taking strategic measures to secure its newly won councilors. Following a significant victory, the alliance with the BJP has gained control over the wealthiest municipal body in India. This article delves into the implications of these developments and the shifting political dynamics in the state, highlighting the strategies employed by the Shiv Sena to maintain its influence amidst concerns of defections.
Jan 17, 2026, 16:57 IST
Resort Politics in Maharashtra Following BMC Elections
After a remarkable victory for the Mahayuti alliance in the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections, the trend of resort politics appears to be making a comeback in Maharashtra. Sources revealed on Saturday that the Shiv Sena, led by Eknath Shinde, has decided to accommodate all newly elected councilors in a five-star hotel. This move comes in light of concerns regarding potential defections following Shiv Sena's emergence as a key player in the BMC elections.
According to insiders, all 29 councilors from Shinde's faction will be staying at the luxurious Taj Lands End hotel in Bandra, Mumbai, for a minimum of three days. Many view this as a strategic pressure tactic by the Shiv Sena to solidify its stronghold in the BMC. The BMC is recognized as the wealthiest municipal body in India. The alliance between the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Eknath Shinde's Shiv Sena secured a majority by winning 118 out of 227 seats in the BMC elections, breaking into the stronghold of the Thackeray family.
With the BJP winning 89 seats and Shinde's faction claiming 29, the alliance surpassed the crucial 114-seat mark needed to control the country's richest municipal corporation. The Shiv Sena (UBT)-Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS)-Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) coalition managed to secure 72 seats. The undivided Shiv Sena had ruled the municipal body for 25 years until 1997.
Under Uddhav Thackeray's leadership, the Shiv Sena (UBT) won 65 seats, while Raj Thackeray's MNS secured six seats, and the Sharad Pawar faction of the NCP managed just one seat. Other parties included Congress with 24 seats, AIMIM with eight, Ajit Pawar's faction of the NCP with three, and the Samajwadi Party with two seats. These highly anticipated elections, held after a nine-year gap, also saw two independent candidates emerge victorious.