The Supreme Court is set to hear a petition on the 'mass rejection' of nominations ahead of the BMC elections on January 15, 2026, in Maharashtra. Raj Thackeray has accused the Mahayuti alliance of bribing voters and candidates. The State Election Commission has barred the release of the Mukhyamantri Ladki Bahin scheme instalment due to the model code of conduct.
The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections in Mumbai are scheduled for January 15, 2026, across 227 wards with around 1,700 candidates in the fray. Results will be declared on January 16. The BMC, India's richest civic body with a budget exceeding ₹74,000 crore, has become a battleground of shifting alliances and intense political rhetoric.
The State Election Commission (SEC) has barred the Mahayuti-led Maharashtra government from releasing the January instalment of the Mukhyamantri Ladki Bahin scheme, citing the enforcement of the model code of conduct. This follows complaints over BJP leader Girish Mahajan's statement that beneficiaries would receive a consolidated ₹3,000 for December and January before Makar Sankranti on January 14.
Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray accused the ruling Mahayuti alliance of bribing voters with ₹5,000 per vote and offering money to opposition candidates to withdraw nominations in 66 wards. Speaking at a joint rally with Shiv Sena (UBT) leaders, he said, "BJP people are distributing money, and Shinde's people are catching them... On the one hand, they claim development; on the other, they buy votes. What development is that?"
A row erupted over 'lungi' remarks by Tamil Nadu BJP leader K Annamalai, who entered Mumbai's election discourse, drawing sharp criticism from Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray and Raj Thackeray. The MNS chief invoked the controversial 1960s-70s Shiv Sena slogan 'Hatao lungi, bajao pungi' to counter the jibe.
Alliances are fluid: Shiv Sena (UBT) has reunited with long-time rival MNS to invoke Marathi pride, while Congress has broken from the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) to ally with Vanchit Bahujan Aaghadi (VBA) for 165+62 seats targeting Dalit and minority voters. Mahayuti remains cohesive with BJP contesting 137 seats (including 76 women candidates) and Shinde Sena 90, already securing 68 unopposed wins (BJP 44). Ajit Pawar's NCP is contesting 94 seats independently in BMC.
The Supreme Court is set to hear a petition on January 13 challenging the Bombay High Court's dismissal of a case on the 'mass rejection' of nominations on hyper-technical grounds, allegedly to favour the ruling party. These polls will shape Mumbai's civic and political future amid fractured coalitions.
