Source Mint
MUMBAI — The long-awaited battle for control over Asia’s richest civic body, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), appears to be tilting heavily in favor of the ruling Mahayuti alliance. According to the Axis My India exit poll released late Thursday evening, the BJP-led coalition is projected to secure a commanding majority, effectively ending the decades-long dominance of the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena.
Axis My India Seat Projections (Total: 227)
The exit poll results suggest a significant shift in the city’s political landscape:
Alliance / Party Predicted Seats
Mahayuti (BJP + Shinde Sena) 131 – 151
UBT+ (UBT Sena + MNS + NCP-SP) 58 – 68
Congress Alliance (INC + VBA + RSP) 12 – 16
Others / Independents 6 – 12
Note: A party or alliance needs 114 seats for a simple majority.
Key Takeaways from the Exit Poll
A “Maha” Sweep: The Mahayuti alliance, comprising the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Chief Minister Eknath Shinde’s Shiv Sena, is expected to comfortably cross the majority mark. The poll predicts a 42% vote share for this combine.
Thackeray Reunion Fails to Stir: For the first time in two decades, estranged cousins Uddhav Thackeray and Raj Thackeray (MNS) joined forces for the BMC polls. However, the “Thackeray factor” seems to have fallen short, with the alliance projected to stay well below 70 seats.
Congress Struggles: Despite a last-minute tie-up with Prakash Ambedkar’s Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi (VBA), the Congress party is predicted to remain a minor player in the BMC.
Young Voters vs. Elders: Interestingly, data suggests a generational divide. Nearly 47% of voters aged 18-25 reportedly backed the BJP+, while the Uddhav Thackeray camp maintained a slight edge among senior citizens (61+ years).
Election Backdrop
The 2026 BMC elections were held after a nine-year hiatus, following multiple delays due to the pandemic and legal battles over ward delimitation. Polling took place across 227 wards on January 15, with an estimated voter turnout of 46–50%.
The stakes are immense; the BMC manages an annual budget exceeding ₹74,400 crore, larger than the budgets of several small Indian states. For Eknath Shinde, a victory would validate his claim as the “real” Shiv Sena in the eyes of Mumbai’s voters.
What’s Next?
While exit polls provide a snapshot of voter sentiment, the final verdict will only be known tomorrow. The State Election Commission (SEC) is scheduled to begin the counting of votes at 10:00 AM on Friday, January 16.
