Mumbai Mayor Election: Lottery Date Announced Amid Political Speculations

The announcement of the lottery date for the Mumbai mayoral election has intensified political speculation among parties, particularly the BJP and the Shinde faction. As the race heats up, Uddhav Thackeray's Shiv Sena is reportedly considering supporting the BJP, while tensions rise with claims from Shiv Sena leaders about councilors' preferences. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis is currently attending the World Economic Forum, with expectations that his return will clarify the political landscape. The mayoral position has historically seen a rotation of reservations, but changes may be on the horizon. This article delves into the unfolding political drama surrounding the BMC mayoral race.

By Narendra Chaudhary Jan 20, 2026, 16:11 IST

Lottery Date for Mumbai Mayor Position Revealed

Amid ongoing speculation regarding the mayoral position of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), the Urban Development Department has officially announced the lottery date for this key role, which could be claimed by either the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) or the Shinde faction. Reports suggest that Uddhav Thackeray's Shiv Sena (UBT) may support Devendra Fadnavis's BJP. The lottery for mayoral reservations across 29 municipal corporations in the state is scheduled for Thursday, January 22, at 11 AM in the council room of the state secretariat. Candidates will be selected only after the reservation announcement.

Devendra Fadnavis, the Chief Minister of Maharashtra, who previously stated that the decision regarding the mayor would be made collectively, has departed for Davos to attend the World Economic Forum's annual meeting. He is expected to return to India on January 24, which may bring clarity to the political landscape surrounding the mayoral position. Traditionally, reservations for the mayoral role have been allocated in rotation for Scheduled Castes (SC), Scheduled Tribes (ST), women, and Other Backward Classes (OBC). However, sources indicate that there may be a shift in these regulations to allow for a cyclical reservation process.

In a move that has intensified political maneuvering, Shinde has accommodated his councilors in a five-star hotel in Bandra. Officially described as a dialogue and guidance program for new councilors, political analysts view this as a strategy to prevent defections and strengthen internal unity amid intense negotiations for the mayoral position. Shinde clarified that this arrangement was intended to provide a common platform for councilors, especially as the formal registration of this group of 29 members is underway with the Konkan divisional commissioner.

The race for the mayoral position has sparked significant political tension. Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut has claimed that several councilors from Shinde's camp do not support a BJP mayor in Mumbai and challenged the Deputy Chief Minister to ensure that the next mayor comes from Shiv Sena. Raut also reminded that Shiv Sena has historically provided 23 mayors to Mumbai, alleging that Shinde would not favor a BJP mayor in the financial capital. In response, Fadnavis made a sarcastic remark, suggesting that "God's will" could have various interpretations, jokingly questioning whether Raut was referring to the divine or to him, as he is also known as "Devbhau."