By Admin 
After the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections, the excitement regarding the post of Mayor has increased in Mumbai. Meanwhile, Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde is of the clear opinion that Shiv Sena will respect the mandate given to the BJP-led grand alliance in BMC.
Sources also said that the shifting of 29 elected Shiv Sena councilors to a five star hotel in Mumbai is being unnecessarily exaggerated. In fact, after the BJP-Shiv Sena alliance got a slight majority in the recently held Municipal Corporation elections, these 29 newly elected councilors were shifted to the hotel.
‘There was no discussion on this with BJP leadership’
There is speculation that Shinde wants the post of BMC mayor for Shiv Sena at least for the first two and a half years as this is the year of birth centenary of party founder late Bal Thackeray. Shiv Sena sources said that Shinde knows that his party will not get this post and he has not even talked to the BJP leadership on this issue till now. However, he also does not want to give the message that he has backed down.
Will get a place in important committees!
A close aide of Deputy CM Eknath Shinde said, “Shiv Sainiks want the party to have its own mayor on the occasion of Balasaheb Thackeray’s birth centenary. Although Shinde knows that BJP will not accept the Shiv Sena mayor’s demand, still there is no harm in a public discussion. Shinde cannot be seen as a leader who will back down. At least the party will get a place in some other important committees.”
No intention to violate the mandate – Shinde
According to sources, Shiv Sena chief Eknath Shinde has clearly said that he has no intention of violating the mandate given to the BJP-Shiv Sena alliance in Mumbai. He also said that there is unnecessary talk of shifting 29 elected Shiv Sena councilors to a five star hotel in Mumbai to prevent them from switching sides.
Sources said it is a training workshop for the newly elected members and an opportunity for Shinde to get acquainted with them and tell them what he expects from them.