Mumbai | Jan 16, 2026

As counting continues for the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections 2026, early trends indicate that the Mahayuti alliance of the BJP and Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena has crossed the majority mark. As of 1:30 pm, the BJP leads in 89 wards and its ally in 29 wards, taking the alliance’s tally to 118 seats—well above the 114-seat majority threshold needed to control the 227-member civic body.

These elections, held on January 15, encompassed 2,869 seats across 893 wards in 29 municipal corporations, including major cities like Mumbai, Pune, Pimpri-Chinchwad, Thane, and Mira-Bhayandar. The polls were closely watched amid shifting alliances, including the ongoing rivalry between the two factions of Shiv Sena and local collaborations like Maharashtra deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar contesting alongside Sharad Pawar’s NCP faction in select corporations.

Early Results in Mumbai

In the first batch of results declared in six Mumbai wards, the Shiv Sena (UBT) secured three seats, the BJP two, and Congress one. The winning candidates included:

• Ward 1: Rekha Yadav (Shiv Sena)
• Ward 51: Varsha Tembwalkar (Shiv Sena)
• Ward 163: Shaila Lande (Shiv Sena)
• Ward 2: Tejaswini Ghosalkar (BJP)
• Ward 214: Ajit Patil (BJP)
• Ward 183: Asha Kale (Congress)

As counting progresses, the Mahayuti alliance continues to hold a strong lead in key urban centres, with the BJP leading in 89 wards, Shiv Sena (Shinde faction) 31, and Congress and Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) trailing with seven seats each. The Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT) was positioned at 66 seats.

Key Developments in the 2026 Civic Polls

1. Mahayuti crosses majority early: BJP and Shiv Sena (Shinde faction) reach 118 seats, securing control of BMC in preliminary trends.
2. Exit poll predictions largely validated: Most surveys, including JVC and Axis My India, had projected a Mahayuti advantage, estimating 131–151 seats or 138 seats respectively. Shiv Sena (UBT) was expected in the range of 58–68 seats, with Congress trailing.
3. Ink controversy resurfaces: Opposition leader Rahul Gandhi accused the Election Commission of “gaslighting citizens” over allegations of erasable ink used during the polls, calling “vote chori” an anti-national act. Complaints about ink allegedly being removable by hand sanitizers or acetone had been raised during polling.
4. High stakes in Marathi-majority pockets: 68 key seats in Mumbai’s Marathi-dominated areas are decisive in determining which Shiv Sena faction—UBT or Shinde—claims the city’s political legacy.
5. Phased counting: Vote counting began at 10 am across 23 counting centres, conducted in phases rather than simultaneously to ensure smooth management and accuracy.
6. Strong regional contests: Besides Mumbai, results from corporations including Pune, Thane, Pimpri-Chinchwad, Mira-Bhayandar, Kolhapur, Nagpur, Nashik, and Panvel are being closely tracked.
7. Political realignments: Former rivals Raj Thackeray and Uddhav Thackeray have joined forces after ending a long-standing feud, while Ajit Pawar allied with Sharad Pawar’s NCP faction in certain urban corporations despite being part of the Mahayuti government.
8. Voter turnout: State Election Commissioner Dinesh Waghmare reported turnout across the 29 civic bodies at 46–50%, with Kolhapur recording the highest at 50.85%.
9. Congress limited presence: The Congress registered only a few early victories, reflecting its continued struggle to make a significant impact amid strong Mahayuti dominance and a fragmented opposition.
10. BMC and beyond: While Mumbai’s results dominate headlines, civic bodies in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Navi Mumbai, Vasai-Virar, Kalyan-Dombivli, Solapur, Amravati, Akola, Ulhasnagar, Chandrapur, Parbhani, Nanded-Waghala, Bhiwandi-Nizampur, Latur, Malegaon, Sangli-Miraj-Kupwad, Jalgaon, Ahilyanagar, Dhule, Jalna, and Ichalkaranji are also crucial in shaping Maharashtra’s urban political landscape.

What the Early Trends Indicate

The preliminary leads suggest that the BJP-Shinde faction alliance is set to consolidate its position in Mumbai’s civic governance, with Uddhav Thackeray’s UBT faction and Congress trailing. Analysts note that while early trends favor Mahayuti, the final outcome in several closely contested wards, particularly Marathi-majority areas, will determine the exact seat distribution.

These civic elections are being viewed as a litmus test for Maharashtra’s urban political dynamics after the assembly results in 2024, reflecting shifting alliances, voter sentiment, and emerging trends in key cities that contribute significantly to the state’s economy and governance.