Mumbai Corporators Depart Luxury Hotel Amid Document Row

Newly elected Shiv Sena corporators from the Eknath Shinde faction in Mumbai have left a seven-star hotel, reportedly due to dissatisfaction with the party's decision to retain their original documents. This move comes amid ongoing political maneuvering for power in the Mumbai civic body. The party had kept documents including victory certificates and Aadhar cards of its 29 corporators, who were staying at the hotel since January 17. Sources suggest the corporators felt uncomfortable with the arrangement, preventing them from celebrating their victory with constituents or attending to their wards. While the party aimed to secure group formation by keeping corporators together, a directive to defer this process has now been issued. Shiv Sena's Rahul Shewale is heading to Delhi for discussions with BJP leaders regarding alliances and mayoral candidacies in various civic bodies. The Shinde faction has 29 corporators in BMC, with the BJP holding the remaining seats, together surpassing the majority mark. The party believes retaining documents mitigates defection fears, though internal discontent is surfacing.