BVA Takes Early Lead in Vasai-Virar Civic Polls as Statewide Counting Continues

Mumbai: The Bahujan Vikas Aghadi (BVA), led by veteran regional leader Hitendra Thakur, has moved into a strong position in the Vasai-Virar Municipal Corporation (VVMC) elections, emerging ahead as vote counting progresses on Friday.

Counting of votes is underway across 29 municipal corporations in Maharashtra, making it one of the largest civic exercises in the state in recent years. While much of the political spotlight remains on Mumbai’s Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), Vasai-Virar has drawn equal attention due to BVA’s sustained grassroots influence in the region.

The municipal elections span 2,869 seats across 893 wards statewide. Counting began at 10 am amid tight security, with officials ensuring smooth movement of EVMs and ballot materials. More than 3.48 crore registered voters participated in the polls, choosing from 15,931 candidates contesting across Maharashtra’s urban bodies.

In Vasai-Virar, early trends suggest that the BVA is once again benefitting from strong local support, particularly in residential and semi-urban pockets where the party has traditionally maintained an organisational edge. The party’s performance is being closely watched as an indicator of regional politics outside the influence of major state-level alliances.

The Vasai-Virar Municipal Corporation has historically been a stronghold of the BVA. In the 2015 civic elections, the party had delivered a landslide performance, securing 106 seats and forming the municipal administration with a clear majority. The current trends indicate that the party is attempting to replicate that dominance.

Meanwhile, in Mumbai, the BJP-led Mahayuti alliance is locked in a fierce battle with the reunited Thackeray factions for control of India’s richest municipal body, making today’s counting politically significant across multiple fronts.