The political drama surrounding the BMC mayor race has taken a dramatic turn, leaving Mumbai’s civic leadership in a state of suspended animation. While the city awaits its next mayor, the man who holds the ultimate power to influence the outcome, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, is thousands of miles away in the Swiss Alps .
This high-stakes tug-of-war within the ruling Mahayuti alliance (BJP and Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena) has hit a critical pause button, with insiders confirming that all major discussions are on hold until Fadnavis returns from the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos . The result? A drawn-out process that now looks set to drag on until the very last days of January.
Table of Contents
- Why the BMC Mayor Race Is in a Hold
- Fadnavis in Davos: Boosting Maharashtra’s Economy
- The Power-Sharing Puzzle Within the BJP-Shiv Sena Alliance
- What to Expect from the January 29/30 Mayoral Election
- Conclusion: A City Waiting for Its Leader
- Sources
Why the BMC Mayor Race Is in a Hold
The core issue is simple: the post of Mumbai’s mayor is not just ceremonial; it’s a symbol of immense political clout over India’s richest civic body. The ruling alliance, which secured a majority in the BMC elections held on January 15, 2026 , must first agree on a power-sharing formula before they can jointly field a candidate .
However, with CM Fadnavis, the key decision-maker for the BJP, currently in Davos until January 24 , these sensitive negotiations have been put on ice. His presence is deemed essential to finalize the intricate details of the deal, which goes beyond just the mayor’s post and includes other key positions like the Standing Committee chairman. Without his green light, the process is effectively frozen.
Fadnavis in Davos: Boosting Maharashtra’s Economy
Fadnavis’s trip to the WEF Annual Meeting 2026, which runs from January 19-23 , is a strategic priority for the state government. He is there to champion the ‘Magnetic Maharashtra’ campaign, aiming to attract global investments and accelerate the state’s journey towards a $1 trillion economy .
His delegation includes top industrialists, and the focus is on themes like economic resilience, sustainability, and technological innovation . While this is a crucial mission for Maharashtra’s future, it has created an immediate political vacuum in Mumbai, delaying the resolution of the BMC mayor race.
The Power-Sharing Puzzle Within the BJP-Shiv Sena Alliance
The groundwork for this impasse was laid weeks ago. The BJP and the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena had already finalized a seat-sharing pact for the BMC elections, with the BJP contesting 137 seats and the Sena 90 . This alliance proved successful, as they together won a clear majority of 118 out of 227 seats .
Now, the internal negotiations are about how to divide the spoils of victory. The mayor’s post is the most coveted prize, and both parties are known to be vying for it. The lottery scheduled for January 22 will determine the reserved category for the post (either for women or for a specific community), which will further complicate the candidate selection process .
What to Expect from the January 29/30 Mayoral Election
Despite the current deadlock, the State Election Commission has set the formal election date for either January 29 or 30, 2026 . This means that once Fadnavis returns, there will be a frantic 48-72 hour window to finalize the alliance’s candidate and prepare for the vote.
The election itself will be decided by the newly elected corporators of the BMC. Given the Mahayuti’s majority, their joint candidate is almost guaranteed to win. The real battle is happening behind closed doors, not on the floor of the house. For readers interested in the broader implications of this political maneuvering, our analysis on [INTERNAL_LINK:mumbai-civic-politics] provides deeper context.
Conclusion: A City Waiting for Its Leader
The delay in the BMC mayor race is a classic case of high-level politics colliding with local governance. While Fadnavis works to secure Mumbai’s long-term economic future on the global stage in Davos, the city’s immediate civic leadership remains in a holding pattern. The next few days, after his return on January 24, will be decisive in determining who will take the reins of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation for the next two and a half years.
Sources
- Times of India: BMC mayor race heats up: Fadnavis in Davos, talks put on hold
- World Economic Forum: World Economic Forum Annual Meeting 2026
- India Today: BJP and Shiv Sena finalise 137-90 seat formula for BMC elections
- The Hindu: BMC elections 2026: Mumbai finally gets its date with polls after 34 months