Source India Today
Mumbai: The ruling Mahayuti alliance has emerged victorious in the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections, securing control of India’s richest civic body and effectively taking charge of Mumbai’s local administration. The result marks a significant political shift in the country’s financial capital, long considered a stronghold of the Shiv Sena led by the Thackeray family.
According to early trends and official updates, the Mahayuti—comprising the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena, and the Ajit Pawar-led Nationalist Congress Party (NCP)—crossed the majority mark, paving the way for the alliance to form the next civic leadership at the BMC.
Celebrations broke out at Mahayuti offices across Mumbai as party workers hailed the outcome as a mandate for development-focused governance. Senior leaders described the victory as a “decisive endorsement” of the alliance’s performance at both the state and municipal levels.
Soon after the trends became clear, BJP leader and Maharashtra minister Nitesh Rane took a sharp dig at the Thackeray family, reviving the politically loaded “penguin” jibe—an apparent reference to the controversial penguin enclosure project at Mumbai’s Byculla zoo during the earlier Shiv Sena-led BMC regime. Rane said the people of Mumbai had “rejected symbol politics and dynastic control,” adding that voters had chosen accountability and infrastructure over “vanity projects.”
Leaders from the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT) acknowledged the setback but maintained that the party would play the role of a strong opposition within the civic body. They alleged misuse of power and resources during the campaign and said they would review the results in detail.
The BMC, with an annual budget larger than that of several Indian states, plays a crucial role in managing Mumbai’s infrastructure, public health, roads, housing, and disaster response. Control of the civic body is often seen as a key indicator of political influence in Maharashtra.
As counting continues for remaining seats, attention is now turning to the formation of the new standing committee and key civic posts, which are expected to be dominated by the Mahayuti alliance. The results are also being closely watched for their potential impact on Maharashtra’s broader political landscape ahead of future elections.
