On Monday, Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde intensified his attacks on Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray, blaming him for the perceived neglect of Marathi interests during his party’s 25-year tenure in Mumbai’s civic administration. “What did Thackeray achieve when his party ruled BMC from 1997 to 2022?” Shinde questioned, highlighting governance and development issues.
Meanwhile, Uddhav Thackeray and Raj Thackeray, after reuniting for these polls following a 20-year gap, have positioned Marathi pride and identity as the centerpiece of their campaign.
Key contests in Mumbai
In Mumbai, 32 wards are witnessing a direct face-off between the BJP-Shiv Sena (Shinde faction) alliance and the Shiv Sena (UBT)-Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) coalition. The Congress-led alliance, which includes the Bahujan Vanchit Aghadi (VBA), has not fielded candidates in these wards, preventing a split in anti-BJP votes. Congress has announced 143 candidates, VBA 46, and six seats have been allocated to smaller allies, totaling 195 seats with alliance representation.
The BMC election is seen as a prestige battle as the civic body, with a budget exceeding ā¹74,000 crore, is the largest in Asia. Control over the BMC is not only administrative but also politically symbolic, with implications for both the Mahayuti (BJP-Shinde Sena) and Mahavikas Aghadi alliances. Experts note that the corporation’s budget surpasses those of several smaller states, underlining its significance in state politics.
Broader stakes
Across Maharashtra, the 29 municipal corporations are witnessing multi-cornered contests. Political heavyweights, including Sharad Pawar, Ajit Pawar, and major party leaders, are closely monitoring the elections, as outcomes may shape party strategies ahead of the 2026 state assembly polls.
Officials have ensured polling preparedness, including deployment of security personnel and arrangements to maintain free and fair voting across all municipal wards.
The elections are expected to provide an early indicator of public sentiment toward major political formations in Maharashtra.
