Daijiworld Media Network - Mumbai
Mumbai, Jan 16: Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Friday said the people of the state have rejected forces opposed to development, as the Mahayuti registered a sweeping victory in the 2026 municipal corporation elections.
Thanking voters for giving a clear mandate to the Mahayuti — comprising the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Shiv Sena and the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) — Shinde said the alliance would accelerate development work across the state.
Addressing a press conference in Thane, the Shiv Sena chief lauded the Mahayuti’s strong performance in Mumbai and said the financial capital would get a mayor from the alliance this time. He also expressed gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his support.
“Over the past three-and-a-half years, our alliance government has worked for Mumbai’s development. Whenever the prime minister visits Mumbai, he has said the city should become an international city. We will make Mumbai pothole-free and corruption-free, and upgrade Balasaheb Thackeray Aapla Dawakhana,” Shinde said.
The Mahayuti recorded a dominant showing in the civic body polls, held on January 15. Of the 1,869 wards, the BJP emerged on top by winning around 1,422 seats, while Shinde’s Shiv Sena secured 366 wards. The Congress finished third with victories in 318 wards.
Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT) won around 161 wards, followed by Ajit Pawar’s Nationalist Congress Party with 159 seats. The All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen, NCP (SP) and the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena won 94, 29 and 17 seats, respectively, while Prakash Ambedkar’s Vanchit Bahujan Aaghadi secured around 15 wards.
Officials said the final tally may change as counting is still underway in several seats.