75 vs 28 Numbers Seal Thane Mayor Post: Shinde Sena Set to Take Control, BJP Settles for Deputy Mayor

Thane: The long political suspense over who will control the Thane Municipal Corporation has finally ended, with the Shiv Sena led by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde emerging firmly in charge. As the deadline for filing nominations for the mayor and deputy mayor posts closed on Thursday, it became clear that the Shinde faction’s claim to the mayor’s chair is now secure.

After days of internal discussions, the Shiv Sena finalised Sharmila Pimpalkar as its official candidate for the mayor’s post. A crucial meeting of the party’s women corporators was held inside the mayor’s chamber at the Thane Municipal Corporation, where multiple names were considered before arriving at a final decision. Senior leaders assessed political strength, experience, and local acceptability before giving the green signal to Pimpalkar’s name.

The decision further strengthens the Shinde faction’s grip over Thane politics, a city considered one of its strongest power bases. With a clear numerical advantage in the civic body, party leaders maintained that the mayor’s post should remain with Shiv Sena and not be rotated or shared.

On the other hand, the BJP, which initially pushed hard for the mayor’s position, has softened its stand. The party has now agreed to take the deputy mayor’s post instead. BJP leader Krishna Patil has been instructed to file nomination papers for the deputy mayor, clearing the final hurdle for the formation of the civic leadership.