Mumbai: The results of the much-anticipated Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections were officially declared on Friday, marking a major political moment in Maharashtra’s civic landscape. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) finished at the top, becoming the single largest party in Mumbai’s civic body, though the verdict reflected a fragmented mandate rather than a sweeping win.
With counting completed for all 227 wards, the BJP secured 89 corporator seats, placing it ahead of all rivals. The Shiv Sena led by Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray followed as the second-largest force with 65 seats, maintaining a strong presence across several key wards. The Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena faction also put up a notable performance, winning 29 seats and reinforcing its relevance in Mumbai’s complex political arithmetic.
The Congress managed to win 24 wards, while the AIMIM made its presence felt with eight seats, largely in minority-dominated pockets. Raj Thackeray’s Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) secured six seats, while Ajit Pawar’s NCP won three. The Samajwadi Party claimed two seats, and Sharad Pawar’s NCP (SP) was limited to a single victory. The Aam Aadmi Party failed to open its account in the BMC.
Several seasoned political figures retained their foothold in Mumbai politics. Four former mayors from the Shiv Sena (UBT) — Kishori Pednekar, Vishakha Raut, Shraddha Jadhav, and Milind Vaidya — successfully defended their wards. Three former deputy mayors also returned to the civic house, underlining the continued influence of experienced leaders.
The BMC, regarded as India’s wealthiest municipal body with an annual budget exceeding ₹74,000 crore, remains a high-stakes centre of power. Nearly 1,700 candidates were in the fray, reflecting the intensity and importance of the contest.
Beyond Mumbai, results were declared for the majority of seats across 29 municipal corporations in Maharashtra. Statewide trends showed the BJP leading the pack with over 1,300 corporator wins, followed by the Shinde-led Shiv Sena and the Congress. Civic polls were conducted on January 15 after a prolonged gap, as many corporations had been under administrators for years.
