BJP swept the election by winning 1425 seats out of 2,869 for which elections were held on January 15. Though the party has been able to increase its number of corporators, from 1099 in earlier round of elections in between February 2015 and December 2018, their absolute majority remained stagnant at in 13. It means, it was benefited largely on account of split in Shiv Sena and NCP. In addition to it, MVA allies Congress, Shiv Sena (UBT), and NCP (SP) were divided and contested as different groups. Therefore, BJP’s gain can’t be interpreted as further consolidation and spread of BJP. It was just misfortune and strategic mistakes of the opposition that proved to be a windfall for the BJP.
BJP won Navi Mumbai, Mira-Bhayandar, Panvel, Nashik, Dhule, Jalgaon, Pune, Pimpri-Chinchwad, Solapur, Nanded, Nagpur, Ichalkaranji and Jalna. In six corporations – Mumbai, Ulhasnagar, Amravati, Akola, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar and Sangli – BJP emerged as largest political party.
The 29 municipal corporations – 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 – had went to polls.
In 2017 BMC elections the united Shiv Sena had won 84 seats, while BJP had won 82 seats. Shiv Sena was split in 2022 – and the splinter groups Shiv Sena (Shinde) and Shiv Sena (UBT) contests separately for the first time in BMC election this year. Shiv Sena (Shinde) contested with BJP led Mahayuti and won 29 seats. Shiv Sena (UBT) won 65 seats. Both the Shiv Sena factions won 94 seats 10 seats more than in 2017. What does it signify? They have become stronger in terms of seats.
Raj Thackeray’s MNS contested in alliance with Uddhav Thackeray’s Shiv Sena (UBT) and won 6 seats, while its another ally NCP (SP) could win only 1 seat. MNS lost one seat compared to 2017, while Congress lost 7 seats and could win only 24 seats. Congress had contested separately this time. As for NCP, it was also split into – NCP (Ajit Pawar) and NCP (SP). NCP had won 9 seats in 2017, but NCP(SP) could win only 1 seat while NCP (Ajit Pawar) won only 3 seats. Jointly they lost 5 seats. All these suggest that BJP’s minor gain of 7 seats in Mumbai is by default, not by its political consolidation in Mumbai. Another message is that in Mumbai, real Shiv Sena is the Shiv Sena (UBT).
Next focus of the elections after BMC was Pune, where Pawars have joined hands. NCP (Ajit Pawar) and NCP (SP) had contested together, though they were part of Mahayuti and MVA respectively. The election result shows that people did not prefer this unholy alliance and unholy split. It resulted into shift of votes and Saffron party stunned Pawars by winning 119 seats out of 165. NCP (Ajit Pawar) could win only 27 and NCP (SP) 3. Congress won only 15 seats while Shiv Sena (UBT) 1. Divided MVA performed poorly, and BJP emerged as dominant force.
Shiv Sena (Shinde) is not visible in Pune while Shiv Sena (UBT) has a presence. However, at state level, Shiv Sena (Shinde) won 399 seats while Shiv Sena (UBT) won only 155. It clearly shows that for the entire state, barring Mumbai, the real Shiv Sena is Shiv Sena (Shinde). This is an ominous sign for Shiv Sena (UBT). If Shiv Sena (UBT) wants its presence in the entire state, it will have to join hands with the Congress, since Congress has considerable presence in the urban areas across the state. It must be recalled that the United Shiv Sena had 489 seats earlier, but they have won 554 seats. This also indicates that the strength of Sena’s improved in the recent years. This should be a matter of concern for the BJP, because its gains are due to Shiv Sena (Shinde), which is its ally. BJP will have to take more care of Shiv Sena (Shinde).
Another MVA ally Congress, which opted out of the alliance has been losing across the state, the result shows. They had 439 corporators earlier, but they could win only 324 seats this time. NCP (SP) contested the election with Shiv Sena (UBT) and could win only 36 seats. On the other hand, NCP (Ajit Pawar) won 167 seats. When they were united, they had 294 corporators. In altogether, BJP will have 19 mayors, Shiv Sena (Shinde) 3, NCP (Ajit Pawar) 1, Congress 3, and Shiv Sena (UBT) 1.
The result shows a distinct trend – when divided, the MVA allies suffered heavy loss, to the much benefit of the BJP and Shiv Sena (Shinde). Municipal corporation election result of 2026 has unmistakable message – division in the INDIA bloc is the only strength of the BJP, which is gaining by default, not by improving their political consolidation among the people, despite of their being sweeping elections. (IPA Service)
BJP is Politically Stagnating in Mumbai, Thackerays are Down but Not Out
Despite Mahayuti’s Sweep, MVA Remains a Political Force in Maharashtra
Dr. Gyan Pathak - 2026-01-19 14:43 UTC
A closer look at the Maharashtra election results for the 29 municipal corporations across the state shows that the BJP is politically stagnating in Mumbai after its meteoric rise in the 2017 election winning 82 seats increasing its tally by 51. This time its tally increased by only 7, the same number the Congress has lost. Thackeray’s lost Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation almost after three decades which made headlines, but they are still a force by winning 65 + 6 seats out of 227 only next to BJP’s 89, and hence still a significant political force in the finance capital of India. Congress, by and large, remains the chief opposition across the state.