Mumbai | January 16
The Bharatiya Janata Party–Shiv Sena alliance (Mahayuti) has crossed the simple majority mark in the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections, securing control of India’s richest civic body.
Out of a total 227 seats, the alliance has taken the lead in 115 wards, ensuring a clear mandate to form the civic administration.
Polling for the BMC was held on January 15, with vote counting beginning at 10 a.m. on Friday.
Simultaneously, counting is underway for elections to 28 other local bodies across Maharashtra, indicating a broader trend favouring the ruling alliance in urban areas.
Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC): Seat Position
Overall Status
- Total seats: 227
- Majority mark: 114
- BJP–Shiv Sena (Mahayuti): Leading in 115 seats
- Opposition alliance (Shiv Sena–UBT, MNS, NCP–Sharad Pawar): Leading in 68 wards
- Congress: Leading in 10 seats
Exit polls had earlier predicted a comfortable victory for the Mahayuti, a projection now largely reflected in counting trends.
Key Wins and High-Profile Defeats in BMC
Major Upsets
- Ravi Raja, BJP candidate and former Leader of the Opposition in the BMC, lost from Ward 185.
- He was defeated by a Shiv Sena (Uddhav Thackeray faction) candidate.
- Ravi Raja had recently joined the BJP after quitting the Congress, making his defeat politically significant.
- Kaptaan Malik, brother of NCP leader Nawab Malik, lost from the Kurla West seat, marking a setback for the NCP camp.
Notable BJP Wins
- BJP candidates won convincingly in South Mumbai, including:
- Ward No. 214
- Ward No. 215
- Vote counting is still in progress in:
- Ward No. 216
- Ward No. 217
Other Municipal Corporations & Local Bodies: Highlights
Jalgaon Municipal Corporation
- Ward No. 11 witnessed a sweeping victory for the Kolhe family:
- Lalit Kolhe (former Mayor, contested from jail)
- Sindhutai Kolhe
- Piyush Lalit Kolhe
This result has drawn attention for both its margin and the political background of the candidates.
Statewide Trend (28 Local Bodies)
- Counting across 28 municipal corporations and local bodies shows the BJP-led Mahayuti advancing strongly.
- Opposition parties are largely confined to limited pockets, struggling to match the alliance’s urban momentum.
Political Reactions
- BJP MP Anurag Thakur said the results reflect the growing footprint of the BJP in Maharashtra’s local governance.
- He added that as results become clear, Congress leaders would “cry foul and blame others”, a remark aimed at pre-empting opposition allegations.
Bottom-to-Top Snapshot: Who Is Leading Where
Municipal Corporation
- BMC (Mumbai):
- BJP–Shiv Sena alliance crosses majority
- Opposition limited to under 70 wards
Municipalities / Local Bodies
- Jalgaon: Kolhe family dominates Ward 11
- Other 27 bodies: Counting ongoing, with Mahayuti showing a clear edge
Political Significance
The BMC result is widely seen as a major political barometer ahead of future elections in Maharashtra. Control of Mumbai’s civic body not only brings administrative power but also symbolic dominance in the state’s political landscape.
As counting continues across municipalities, the BJP-Shiv Sena alliance appears firmly placed to consolidate its urban stronghold, while the opposition faces the challenge of regrouping after a fragmented performance.
