BJP Nears Victory in Mumbai BMC 2026, Mahayuti Sees Major Win
The recent elections for the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) have shown a significant lead for the BJP-Shiv Sena Mahayuti alliance. The coalition is currently leading in over 115 wards. In contrast, the Shiv Sena (UBT)-MNS alliance appears to be trailing with leads in 70 wards, while the Congress manages to secure leads in 13 wards.
BJP’s Dominance Across Maharashtra
Beyond Mumbai, early results from various civic elections across Maharashtra indicate a robust performance for the BJP. In Nagpur, the city of Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, the BJP is leading in 78 of the 151 seats, with Congress at a distant 22 seats.
Pune Municipal Corporation Results
The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) has also seen a significant shift, with the BJP leading in 50 of the 165 wards. Meanwhile, two factions of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) lead in five wards, while the Congress-UBT alliance is ahead in seven wards.
- Ward 20 results in PMC:
- Rajendra Shilimkar (BJP)
- Tanvi Divekar (BJP)
- Mansi Deshpande (BJP)
- Gaurav Ghule (NCP) – winner against BJP’s Mahendra Sundecha
Thane and Nashik Results
In the Thane Municipal Corporation, the BJP leads in 21 out of 131 wards, while the NCP and the UBT-MNS-NCP(SP) alliance each lead in six wards. Nashik reflects similar trends, with the BJP leading in 12 out of 122 seats, while the MVA-MNS coalition is trailing with nine and the SS-NCP combine in 11.
Voter Turnout and Historical Context
The recently concluded BMC elections recorded a voter turnout of 52.94 percent. The State Election Commission reported that 54.76 lakh of the 1.03 crore eligible voters participated, including:
- 29.23 lakh men
- 25.52 lakh women
- 251 transgender voters
This election marks a crucial civic exercise for Mumbai, following an eight-year gap since the last polls in 2017. The previous mayor, Kishori Pednekar, left office in March 2022. In the 2017 BMC elections, the undivided Shiv Sena secured 84 of the 227 seats in alliance with the BJP, surpassing the majority threshold with a combined total of 166 seats.
Allegations and Predictions
The elections were not without controversy, as allegations from the Shiv Sena (UBT)-MNS alliance emerged but were refuted by the State Election Commission. Exit polls had forecasted a favorable outcome for the BJP-Shiv Sena alliance, positioning the Thackeray brothers in second place and highlighting the Congress’s lack of significant impact.
Conclusion
The BMC elections are a reflection of the changing political landscape in Mumbai and Maharashtra. With the BJP-Shiv Sena Mahayuti alliance approaching a clear victory, future governance will be pivotal for the city’s development.
