Shiv Sena (Shinde) Picks Amey Ghole as BMC Group Leader as Mahayuti Begins Formal Power Shuffle

Mumbai: Nearly two weeks after the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) election results were declared, the Shiv Sena led by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde has moved to firm up its organisational presence in the civic body by naming Amey Ghole as its group leader. Ghole, a corporator from Dadar East and a former chairperson of the BMC’s health committee, will now lead the party’s floor strategy in the municipal corporation.

The announcement was made on Monday at the BMC headquarters by senior Shiv Sena leader and Member of Parliament Rahul Shewale. Party leaders said the decision was taken to ensure coordinated participation of Shiv Sena corporators during the crucial post-election processes, including group registration and committee formation.

Later in the day, corporators elected under the Mahayuti banner are scheduled to complete their formal registration with the Konkan Commissioner at Konkan Bhavan in Navi Mumbai. However, the alliance partners will not register as a single bloc. BJP corporators and Shiv Sena (Shinde) corporators will submit their registrations separately, reflecting their individual party identities within the ruling coalition.

The BJP, which emerged as the largest party in the 227-member BMC with 89 seats, has already named Ganesh Khankar, a senior corporator from Dahisar, as its group leader. The Shiv Sena (Shinde) secured 29 seats, while the Nationalist Congress Party managed to win three wards.

According to party leaders, specific time slots have been allocated for registration, with BJP and Shiv Sena corporators scheduled earlier in the day and NCP corporators later in the afternoon. Decisions on the mayor, deputy mayor and key committee chairpersons are expected only after the registration process is completed.

The delay in Mahayuti corporators’ registration followed an unexpected pause due to state mourning after the accidental death of former Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar. In contrast, corporators from the Congress, Shiv Sena (UBT), MNS and other parties had completed their formalities soon after the results.

While the Shiv Sena (Shinde) has reiterated its interest in the mayor’s post, the BJP’s numerical strength places it in a dominant position to claim both the mayoralty and the powerful standing committee. Negotiations within the alliance are ongoing, particularly over the distribution of influential committees such as standing, improvement, education, health and BEST.