Rons Bantwal
Daijiworld Media Network - Mumbai
Mumbai, Jan 17: The election results for the 227-member Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), India’s richest and largest municipal body established during British rule, were declared on Friday. For the first time in its nearly 154-year history, the BMC has come under the control of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). With this, after nearly two-and-a-half decades, the post of mayor of Mumbai — regarded as the city’s first citizen — will also be held by the BJP for the first time.
Established in 1872 with 64 elected corporators, the BMC had remained under Shiv Sena control for nearly three decades. The BJP-led Mahayuti has now brought that era to an end, emerging as the dominant force in the civic body. After contesting earlier elections in alliance with Shiv Sena (UBT) since 1997, the Mahayuti this time went to the polls as a coalition of BJP (135 seats), Shiv Sena (Eknath Shinde) (89 seats) and Republican Party of India (Athawale faction) (15 seats).
Following the 2017 civic elections, the BMC limits were expanded with nine new wards — three in the city region (Worli, Parel and Byculla), three in the western suburbs (Bandra, Andheri and Dahisar) and three in the eastern suburbs (Kurla, Chembur and Govandi). Elections were held for 227 seats (236 corporators in total), and the BJP-led Mahayuti is set to govern the civic body.
Polling for the BMC and 29 other municipal corporations across Maharashtra was held on Thursday, January 15, with results declared by Friday afternoon. While the ruling Mahayuti and the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) largely contested separately, the BMC saw intense multi-cornered contests. The Mahayuti fielded candidates under the BJP–Shiv Sena (Eknath Shinde)–RPI (Athawale) alliance, while the MVA comprised Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray), MNS and NCP (Sharadchandra Pawar). The Congress (I) contested in alliance with Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi and Rashtriya Samaj Party, while NCP (Ajit Pawar) contested independently. In addition, 585 independent candidates entered the fray, making the contest highly competitive.
Candidates from nearly 60 parties contested the BMC 2026 elections. Notably, a significant number of Tulu-, Kannada- and Konkani-speaking candidates contested, many of whom emerged victorious. Among them were winners from various wards across Mumbai and its suburbs, representing different political parties, including BJP, Shiv Sena (Eknath Shinde), Shiv Sena (UBT) and Congress (I).
Thane Municipal Corporation
In the Thane Municipal Corporation (TMC), former mayor Meenakshi Rajendra Shinde (Poojary), who contested from Thane West under the Shiv Sena (Eknath Shinde) banner, registered a resounding victory. A native of Katapady, Udupi district, she secured her fourth consecutive win, earning recognition as a prominent leader from the Karnataka coast.
Bhiwandi
In the Bhiwandi–Nizampur City Municipal Corporation (BNMC), brothers Santosh Manjayya Shetty and Rajesh Manjayya Shetty were elected from wards 17 and 16 respectively as BJP candidates. Natives of Moodubelle village in Udupi district, Santosh Shetty is popularly known as ‘Bhiwandi Ka Anna’.
New Panvel Municipal Corporation
In the Panvel Municipal Corporation, sitting corporator Santosh G Shetty won for the fourth consecutive term on a BJP ticket. A native of Sajipa, Bantwal, he has been active in politics for several decades.
Mira-Bhayandar Municipal Corporation
Former corporator Ganesh Gopal Shetty (Shreeyan), a BJP candidate from ward 3, emerged victorious. Meanwhile, Akanksha Shetty won by a massive margin in the Mira-Bhayandar Municipal Corporation elections on a BJP ticket.
Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation
Suresh Gopal Shetty, a former corporator and BJP candidate from ward 21, Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation, was elected. He hails from Ermal in Udupi district.
Kalyan Municipal Corporation
Mallesha Shivanna Shetty, a former corporator and Shiv Sena (Eknath Shinde) candidate from Kalyan Municipal Corporation, also registered a win. He too is a native of Ermal, Udupi district.
All the elected representatives expressed their gratitude to the voters and party leadership for the support extended to them.