The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections 2026 have signaled a significant shift in Mumbai’s political landscape. The Mahayuti alliance, led by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Eknath Shinde’s Shiv Sena, is poised to end the long-standing control of Uddhav Thackeray’s Shiv Sena, marking a historic change.
Election Trends and Results
Current trends indicate that the Mahayuti alliance is leading in over 110 wards throughout Mumbai. In stark contrast, the Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray (UBT) alliance is struggling with leads in only 68 seats. The Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) is leading in merely 9 wards, while UBT Sena commands 58 and the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) holds just 1 seat. The Congress party’s outlook is bleak, with leads in only 10 wards.
Key Battles and Candidates
Some notable contests in this election include:
- Foram Parmar from UBT trailing in Ward 1.
- Gita Bhandari from UBT leading in Ward 32.
- Varsha Tembelkar from Shinde Sena leading in Ward 51.
- BJP candidates Deepak Tavde, Ujjwal Veti, and Neil Somaiya showing promising leads.
- Asha Deepak Kale from Congress achieving victory in Ward 183 in Dharavi.
Broader Implications Beyond Mumbai
The electoral shift is not confined to Mumbai alone. In the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC), the BJP has overtaken the Pawar family, leading in 50 of the 165 seats. Both NCP factions are trailing, with only 5 leads each, while the Congress-UBT alliance manages to secure 7 seats.
Predictions and Future Outlook
Most exit polls projected a wave in favor of the BJP-Shinde Sena alliance, and current trends are confirming these forecasts. If these results hold, they would effectively terminate the three-decade reign of Uddhav Thackeray’s Shiv Sena in the wealthiest civic body in India.
MNS chief Raj Thackeray has also made headlines during the campaign, urging for Marathi unity. He cautioned that the region’s language, land, and identity are at stake, labeling the BMC elections as “decisive” for the Marathi community. Voters are urged to unite and remain vigilant against potential electoral malpractice.
As the counting continues, all eyes remain on the unfolding political developments in Mumbai and beyond, as these elections signal a new chapter in Maharashtra’s governance.
