BJP-Led Mahayuti Sweeps Maharashtra Civic Polls

The BJP-led Mahayuti alliance registered a sweeping victory in the Maharashtra municipal corporation elections, winning control of 25 out of 29 civic bodies, including the financially powerful Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC). The results marked a major political setback for opposition alliances, even as AIMIM emerged as a significant gainer.

Across the state, the BJP secured 1,425 of the total 2,869 seats. The Shiv Sena won 399 seats, followed by the Congress with 324 and the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) with 167. The Shiv Sena (UBT) managed 155 seats, while the NCP (SP) won 36. Smaller parties such as the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena and the Bahujan Samaj Party won 13 and six seats respectively. Independents claimed 19 seats, while registered and unrecognised parties together accounted for over 300 seats.

AIMIM, led by Asaduddin Owaisi, recorded substantial gains by winning 125 seats. Following the results, Owaisi said parties that suffered losses should engage in serious introspection.

The elections also dealt a blow to two major political unions in the state. The reconciliations within the Thackeray and Pawar families failed to translate into electoral success.

In Mumbai, the BJP and the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena ended the nearly 30-year dominance of the undivided Shiv Sena once controlled by the Thackeray family. The BJP also emerged victorious in Pune, defeating the combined challenge posed by the rival NCP factions led by Sharad Pawar and Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar.

Addressing party workers in south Mumbai, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said the Mahayuti alliance was poised to form administrations in 25 municipal corporations. Prime Minister Narendra Modi thanked voters for the decisive mandate, stating that the people of Maharashtra had endorsed the NDA’s agenda of pro-people and good governance.