Mumbai: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) registered a historic victory in the 2026 Maharashtra civic elections, winning 1,425 out of 2,869 seats across 29 municipal corporations and decisively ending Uddhav Thackeray’s three-decade-long dominance over the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC). The results mark a watershed moment in state politics, reinforcing the BJP’s position as the principal urban political force in Maharashtra while delivering a significant setback to both the Thackeray family and the Pawars.

BMC: End of an Era

The BMC, India’s richest municipal body, was the focal point of attention during the polls. For the first time in over 30 years, the Shiv Sena (UBT) under Uddhav Thackeray failed to retain control, managing 65 seats, while its ally, the original Shiv Sena aligned with the BJP, secured 29 seats. The BJP emerged as the single-largest party in Mumbaiwith 89 seats, allowing it to take control of the cash-rich civic body. Other parties such as the Congress, contesting in alliance with the Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi (VBA), won 24 seats, the MNS bagged six, AIMIM eight, NCP three, Samajwadi Party two, and NCP (SP) just one seat.

The outcome is not just a numerical victory; it symbolically represents the end of an era for the Thackeray family, whose political and financial influence in Mumbai had long been tied to control over the BMC. Analysts note that despite Uddhav and Raj Thackeray’s attempt to present a united Marathi-centric opposition, the BJP’s development-focused campaign and organizational strength proved decisive.

Pune and Other Key Corporations

The BJP’s dominance extended well beyond Mumbai. In Pune, the saffron party won 119 seats, leaving the Ajit Pawar-led NCP a distant second with 27 seats, while NCP (SP) managed three, and Congress won 15 seats. The results were a stunning blow to the Pawars, who had previously held significant sway in western Maharashtra.

Similarly, in Nagpur, the BJP captured 102 of 151 seats, with the Congress limited to 34 and the Shiv Sena managing a single seat. In Nashik, the BJP won 72 seats, followed by Shiv Sena 26, Shiv Sena (UBT) 15, Congress three, and NCP four.

In Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, the BJP bagged 57 seats, Shiv Sena 13, Congress just one, while the AIMIM, representing smaller regional interests, secured 33 seats. Across other municipal corporations such as Thane, Kalyan-Dombivli, Vasai-Virar, Pimpri-Chinchwad, Ulhasnagar, Latur, and Kolhapur, the BJP maintained a strong presence, reflecting the party’s consolidated grip on urban Maharashtra.

Statewide Tally

According to the final tally across all 29 municipal corporations:

• BJP: 1,425 seats
• Shiv Sena: 399 seats
• Congress: 324 seats
• NCP: 167 seats
• Shiv Sena (UBT): 155 seats
• NCP (SP): 36 seats
• MNS: 13 seats
• BSP: 6 seats
• SEC-registered parties: 129 seats
• Unrecognised parties: 196 seats
• Independents: 19 seats

The elections were conducted across Maharashtra’s major urban centres, including Mumbai, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Navi Mumbai, Vasai-Virar, Kalyan-Dombivli, Kolhapur, Nagpur, Solapur, Amravati, Akola, Nashik, Pimpri-Chinchwad, Pune, Ulhasnagar, Thane, Chandrapur, Parbhani, Mira-Bhayandar, Nanded-Waghala, Panvel, Bhiwandi-Nizampur, Latur, Malegaon, Sangli-Miraj-Kupwad, Jalgaon, Ahilyanagar, Dhule, Jalna, and Ichalkaranji.

BJP’s Strategic Victory

The BJP’s sweeping success reflects strong organisational planning, voter outreach, and a focus on urban development issues, resonating with a broad cross-section of the electorate. Political analysts highlight that the party’s emphasis on civic infrastructure, governance efficiency, and inclusive development helped consolidate its support across diverse urban centres.

This victory also cements Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s and Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis’ influence in the state. Both leaders actively campaigned on a development-focused agenda, steering clear of divisive politics and instead prioritising service delivery, infrastructure projects, and urban governance reforms.

Implications for Opposition Parties

For opposition forces, the results are sobering. The Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena has faced repeated setbacks, failing to retain key urban strongholds. Similarly, the NCP under Ajit Pawar was significantly weakened in Pune and other western Maharashtra districts, raising questions about the party’s urban strategy and influence. The Congress, despite being the single-largest party in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections in Maharashtra, suffered its lowest civic poll performance, highlighting its declining urban appeal.

The results also underline the BJP’s growing control over the Mumbai-Nashik-Pune industrial belt, which contributes roughly 7% of India’s GDP, and the broader Mumbai Metropolitan Region, home to over 20% of Maharashtra’s population. Analysts argue that control over these key urban centres positions the BJP favorably for state-level and national-level political contests in the coming years.

Conclusion

The 2026 Maharashtra civic polls represent a defining moment in the state’s political landscape. The BJP’s overwhelming victory, both in the BMC and across other municipal corporations, underscores the party’s ability to translate organizational strength into electoral success, while delivering a historic blow to traditional powerhouses like the Thackerays and the Pawars.

As the BJP assumes control of civic bodies, urban governance, infrastructure development, and service delivery are expected to become central priorities, with implications for Mumbai’s economic management, Pune’s growth trajectory, and the overall urban governance model in Maharashtra. For opposition parties, the results serve as a prompt to reassess strategies, rebuild urban networks, and reconnect with a changing electorate, particularly in fast-growing metropolitan centres.

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