Thane Mayor and Deputy Mayor Posts Finalized After Over a Year of Talks Between BJP and Eknath Shinde

Mumbai: The long-standing dispute over the mayoral post in Thane Municipal Corporation has finally been resolved. According to the formula agreed upon between Shiv Sena (Shinde faction) and the BJP, the Mayor and Deputy Mayor will serve for a term of one-and-a-quarter years (15 months) each. Over five years, this arrangement will allow four mayors and four deputy mayors to serve in Thane, with the Shiv Sena (Shinde faction) holding the mayor’s post and the BJP holding the deputy mayor’s post throughout the term.

Mayor and Deputy Mayor Nominees
Shiv Sena (Shinde faction) leader Sharmila Pimpolkar-Gaikwad has filed her nomination for the Mayor’s post, while BJP’s Krishna Patil has filed for Deputy Mayor. Both nominations were submitted on Friday in the presence of Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde. With no opposition nominations, the elections are expected to be uncontested, and the official declaration will be made on 3 February 2026. The nomination process was attended by MP Naresh Mhaske, MLA Niranjan Davkhare, and other officials.

Reservation and Legal Background
The Thane Mayor post was reserved for Scheduled Castes. However, due to a Supreme Court ruling in 1998, rules were amended, benefiting Sharmila Pimpolkar, who has been elected for a second term from Kopri Ward-20. Meanwhile, Krishna Patil, elected for the third consecutive term from Ward-11, will take charge as Deputy Mayor.

Seat Distribution and Contenders
In the Maha-Yuti alliance, the Shinde Shiv Sena has 75 seats, while the BJP has 28. For the SC-reserved category, the Shinde Shiv Sena fielded seven candidates, and the BJP fielded two. Sharmila Pimpolkar faced internal competition from candidates including Padma Bhagat (Ward 3-A), Vanita Ghogre (Ward 6-A), Vimal Bhoir (Ward 7-A), Ganesh Kamble (Ward 9-A), Dr. Darshana Jankar (Ward 16-A), Aarti Gaikwad (Ward 24-A), and Deepak Jadhav (Ward 28-A). BJP contenders included Suresh Kamble (Ward 15-A) and Usha Wagh (Ward 22-A). However, all potential challengers eventually stepped aside.

BJP’s Warning and Strategic Move
Before the deal, the BJP had warned that if they were not given key posts, they might adopt an independent role in the corporation to fulfill promises made to Thane residents and ensure transparency. MLA Niranjan Davkhare emphasized that BJP’s leadership in the corporation was essential to honor electoral commitments. Ultimately, the BJP agreed to the power-sharing arrangement, ensuring stability in the Thane Municipal Corporation.