Shiv Sena, BJP Lock Horns Over Mumbai Mayor Post Amid Phone Tapping Allegations

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A power struggle is unfolding in Mumbai's Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) after the BJP-led Mahayuti alliance secured a majority in the recent elections. Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde has claimed that his party, the Shiv Sena, is entitled to the mayor's post as a 'mark of respect' to party founder Bal Thackeray, whose birth centenary falls next year. Shinde stated that some Shiv Sena workers feel that a party member should be installed as mayor in the BMC, emphasizing that the city will have a Mahayuti mayor. However, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut has countered with allegations that phones of newly elected BJP and Shiv Sena corporators are being tapped by the ruling party. Raut claimed that the BJP is monitoring the movements of its own corporators and even tapping their phones. The BJP has dismissed Raut's allegations, and the Shiv Sena corporators have registered themselves as a group with the Konkan Divisional Commissioner. The power struggle in the BMC is a result of the BJP winning 89 seats, the most of any party, but no single party having a clear majority. The BJP-Shiv Sena alliance secured 89 and 29 seats, respectively, while the rival Shiv Sena (UBT) won 65 seats and its ally, Maharashtra Navnirman Sena, bagged 6 seats in the high-stakes polls.