Mumbai’s Congress unit is grappling with internal turmoil following its dismal performance in the recently concluded Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections, exposing deep fissures within the party and raising questions about leadership, accountability, and organizational discipline. The party, which once held a significant presence in the civic body, contested 152 out of the 227 seats but managed to win only 24, marking its lowest-ever tally in the history of BMC elections. By comparison, in the 2017 BMC elections, the Congress had won 31 seats, highlighting a continued downward trend and compounding the sense of urgency and introspection within the party.

The immediate flashpoint came when former Mumbai Congress president Bhai Jagtap publicly demanded that Varsha Gaikwad, the incumbent party president, take responsibility for the debacle and step down from her position. Speaking to the media, Jagtap stressed that leadership is measured not merely by holding a position but by the ability to deliver results. “A person cannot become big merely by having a position. Leadership becomes big by delivering results. Varsha Gaikwad will have to take responsibility for the outcome and will have to resign from the position,” he said. These remarks, made in a public forum, did not sit well with the higher echelons of the Congress leadership.

In response, the All India Congress Committee (AICC) issued a show-cause notice to Jagtap. The notice, signed by U B Venkatesh, AICC secretary in charge of Mumbai and Konkan regions, emphasized that matters relating to organizational functioning, leadership, and internal differences must be addressed strictly within internal forums and not aired in public or media platforms. It added that such public statements undermined collective leadership, damaged the party’s image, and gave rise to avoidable confusion and indiscipline at a time when unity was crucial.

The show-cause notice reflects the party’s concern over maintaining discipline and presenting a united front in the aftermath of a humiliating electoral setback. It also underscores a broader challenge faced by the Congress at the state and national level: managing internal dissent while attempting to recalibrate strategies to regain lost ground. While Jagtap’s call for Gaikwad’s resignation reflects genuine frustration within the party over electoral performance, it also exposes a wider pattern of dissatisfaction and accountability pressures that senior leaders face in urban strongholds such as Mumbai.

The 2026 BMC elections have been particularly harsh for the Congress. The party’s 24-seat tally is not only its lowest ever but also significantly behind its political rivals. The BJP emerged as the single-largest party with 89 seats, while the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena secured 29, taking the ruling alliance’s combined tally to 118 — barely four seats above the halfway mark. The Uddhav Thackeray faction of Shiv Sena won 65 seats. In this context, the Congress’s poor performance is seen as a reflection of declining urban influence and an inability to effectively mobilize support in a politically competitive landscape dominated by regional alliances and identity-based politics.

Political analysts argue that the party’s defeat in the BMC is part of a larger trend of urban decline for the Congress, exacerbated by organizational weaknesses, lack of coordination among local units, and failure to connect with grassroots voters on critical issues. Internal differences over leadership and candidate selection have long plagued the Mumbai unit, and the recent elections have brought these conflicts into sharp focus.

Within the Congress, opinions remain divided over the handling of the BMC elections. While Bhai Jagtap has publicly held Gaikwad accountable, other leaders have sought to defend the party’s efforts and performance. Sachin Sawant, the chief spokesperson of Mumbai Congress, described the results as “satisfactory given the extremely adverse circumstances.” His remarks suggest that some senior leaders are attempting to contextualize the outcome in light of broader political challenges, including the division of the Shiv Sena, the rise of the BJP in urban Maharashtra, and the fragmentation of traditional vote banks.

The tension within the party underscores the complex dynamics of electoral politics in Mumbai. Local elections, particularly in the BMC, are not only about civic governance but also serve as a barometer for party strength and influence ahead of state and national elections. A poor showing can have cascading effects on morale, organizational coherence, and the perception of leadership effectiveness. For the Congress, which has historically relied on strong organizational presence in urban centers, the 2026 BMC results have raised urgent questions about strategy, leadership, and long-term viability.

Varsha Gaikwad, as the current president of the Mumbai Congress, now faces a difficult balancing act. On one hand, she must manage internal dissent and maintain unity within the party, while on the other, she is expected to provide answers for a performance that has been widely perceived as underwhelming. The public demand for her resignation by Jagtap, coupled with a show-cause notice to him, illustrates the tension between accountability and discipline within party ranks — a challenge faced by many political organizations following electoral setbacks.

Experts note that the show-cause notice may also serve as a warning to other party members who might consider public criticism of leadership. The Congress leadership appears keen on avoiding a repeat of internal discord in public forums, recognizing that such displays can embolden political opponents and negatively influence public perception. At the same time, the party must grapple with the substantive issue of poor electoral performance, which cannot be addressed solely through disciplinary measures.

As the Congress works to navigate its post-BMC scenario, several strategic imperatives emerge. First, the party must conduct a thorough assessment of the factors contributing to its defeat, including candidate selection, campaign execution, voter engagement, and messaging. Second, it must reconcile internal differences and foster cohesion among Mumbai unit leaders to prevent further erosion of organizational strength. Third, the leadership must develop strategies to reconnect with urban voters and regain lost ground in future elections, both at the civic and state levels.

Meanwhile, the political atmosphere in Mumbai remains charged. The BJP-Shinde Sena alliance holds a narrow majority, while the Uddhav Thackeray faction and other smaller parties continue to position themselves for influence in the civic house. In this high-stakes environment, Congress’s weak performance has left it marginalized, heightening pressures on leaders like Gaikwad to take corrective action and demonstrate political accountability.

In conclusion, the aftermath of the 2026 BMC elections has thrown the Mumbai Congress into a state of visible turmoil. Bhai Jagtap’s call for Varsha Gaikwad’s resignation and the subsequent show-cause notice reflect the delicate balance between enforcing party discipline and addressing genuine concerns over leadership and accountability. The party’s historically low tally of 24 seats, its poor performance relative to previous elections, and the shifting political dynamics in Mumbai underscore the challenges the Congress faces in reclaiming influence in the city. The coming weeks are likely to witness intense internal discussions, strategy recalibrations, and leadership evaluations as the party seeks to chart a path forward while managing the fallout from its civic poll defeat.