After the announcement of the Mumbai Municipal Corporation election results, the equation for establishing power in the corporation has become more intriguing. In this election, Shiv Sena succeeded in electing 29 corporators, and these numbers have made it clear that the grand alliance's mayor cannot be formed without Shiv Sena's support. Therefore, Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, without wasting time, took a cautious approach and moved all his newly elected corporators to the five-star hotel Taj Land's End in Bandra.
For the past three days, all these corporators have been staying at Taj Land's End. Yesterday, Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde himself met these corporators and congratulated them. During this time, he gave important instructions on how to work in the Mumbai Municipal Corporation in the future, what the party's role will be, and maintaining discipline and unity. Out of the 29 elected corporators, 20 are elected for the first time. Therefore, they have been brought together to get to know each other, understand the workings of the corporation, and to share the experiences of experienced corporators with the new ones, as clarified by Shinde.
However, in political circles, different meanings are being derived from this. There is talk that this is a kind of pressure tactic to implement the formula of two-and-a-half years for the mayor's post in the Mumbai Municipal Corporation, with two-and-a-half years going to the Shiv Sena, and to get a proper share in the Standing Committee and other important committees. Therefore, it is said that all the corporators have been kept 'safe'. Taj Land's End is considered one of the most expensive five-star hotels in Mumbai. Staying or dining here is beyond the reach of the common Mumbaikar. This hotel has 18 types of rooms, and the 24-hour rent ranges from 18-20 thousand to more than one lakh rupees. It is known that the rooms where the corporators have been kept cost around 28 to 33 thousand rupees for 24 hours. This rate includes breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
29 Shiv Sena corporators, each accompanied by one person, as well as 12 to 15 important party leaders and officials, totaling around 70 people, are staying at this hotel. Approximately 35 rooms have been booked for this, and the estimated daily cost is 10 to 12 lakh rupees. If calculated for three days, the cost reaches 30 to 36 lakh rupees. Additionally, there is a separate cost for the conference hall. If this stay continues for the next few days, the expenses will increase further. Against this backdrop, the question 'Who is bearing this cost?' is now arising in the minds of ordinary Mumbaikars. After the municipal elections, 'hotel politics' has once again become a topic of discussion, and due to Shinde's movements, new discussions have erupted in Mumbai's politics.