With civic elections announced to be held on January 15 next year, political manoeuvring in Mumbai has shifted into high gear. The BJP and the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena are close to finalising a Mahayuti pact for the BMC and other civic bodies, but differences remain over the number of seats and leadership roles. At the same time, cousins Uddhav and Raj Thackeray are also working towards an alliance, though unresolved ward-level negotiations have slowed progress.

Sources said the Shinde-led Shiv Sena is demanding over 100 seats in BMC and wants a leading role in neighbouring corporations. The BJP, however, is reportedly willing to offer around 75 seats and is unwilling to play a junior partner. In a bid to counter the Opposition’s charge that the Mahayuti wants to separate Mumbai from Maharashtra, BJP leaders have asserted that the alliance will win the BMC comfortably and that the next mayor will be a Marathi manoos.