Mahayuti has secured a major victory in Maharashtra's BMC elections, paving the way for BJP's first mayor. Shiv Sena's 25-year stronghold has crumbled, and the Thackeray brothers' unity failed to sway voters. These results signal a significant shift in the state's urban politics.
The results of the Mumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections have upended Maharashtra's political landscape. Declared on January 17, 2026, the outcomes show BJP and Eknath Shinde's Shiv Sena securing 118 seats, with BJP winning 89 and Shinde's faction 29. The majority mark of 114 was surpassed by Mahayuti. Uddhav Thackeray's Shiv Sena (UBT) got 65 seats, MNS 6, Congress 24, and AIMIM 8.
These elections, held after a 9-year gap, follow BMC's administrator-led operations since March 2022. As Asia's richest civic body, BMC's annual budget exceeds Rs 74,400 crore. After 25 years of Shiv Sena control, BJP will have its first mayor, raising questions over the Thackeray legacy.
Despite the unity of Thackeray brothers—Uddhav and Raj—voters rejected them. Factors include anti-incumbency, failure of Marathi-centric politics, backlash from violence against North Indians, and alienation of Muslim voters. Uddhav distanced from Maha Vikas Aghadi and allied with his brother, but emphasizing press conferences over rallies hindered voter connection.
Notably, in Santacruz's Ward 90, Congress's Tulip Miranda defeated BJP's Jyoti Upadhyay by just 7 votes (5,197 vs 5,190). In contrast, Malad West's Ward 46 saw BJP's Yogita Koli triumph over MNS's Sneehita Dehlikar by a record 21,717 votes.
Mahayuti won 25 of Maharashtra's 29 municipal corporations, including Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad, dealing a blow to the Pawar family. These results highlight BJP's strengthening, but editorials stress focusing on civic issues like flooding, roads, and waste. BJP must treat opposition fairly, as past fund allocation limited 99 percent of development funds to Mahayuti areas.
The victory benefits Devendra Fadnavis, aiding control over allies. Nationally, it signals to regional parties that sub-nationalism alone is insufficient.
