Following the declaration of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) election results on January 17, 2026, Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde swiftly moved his newly elected Shiv Sena corporators to a five-star hotel in Bandra, Mumbai. This 'resort politics' move was a precautionary measure against potential poaching attempts, aimed at securing his faction's numbers ahead of crucial mayoral discussions. The Mahayuti alliance, comprising the BJP and the Shinde-led Shiv Sena, secured a narrow majority in the 227-member BMC. The BJP emerged as the single largest party with 89 seats, while Shinde's Shiv Sena secured 29, bringing their combined tally to 118, just four seats above the required majority mark of 114. This slender lead intensified the political jostling for control of India's richest civic body and its coveted mayoral post. Concurrently, Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) chief Uddhav Thackeray delivered a defiant message, stating his "dream" was to install a Shiv Sena (UBT) mayor in Mumbai, asserting that it would come true "if God wills." Thackeray also addressed party workers, portraying their performance as a matter of pride despite losing control of the BMC and accusing the BJP and the ruling alliance of winning through "betrayal" and misusing power. His remarks hinted at continued political struggle and a potential split within the Shinde Sena faction. The events underscore the high stakes involved in Mumbai's civic politics and the ongoing power dynamics in Maharashtra.