23 December,2025 09:28 AM IST | Mumbai | Sanjeev Shivadekar
Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis (centre) and BJP MLA Ashish Deshmukh (in purple jacket) flash victory signs as they are felicitated on Monday, after the BJP-led Mahayuti alliance won the local body polls in Nagpur. Pic/PTI
The BJP has doubled its presence in Maharashtra's civic bodies. After the 2025 municipal council elections, it has over 3300 corporators, more than double the 1600-odd councillors it had in 2017.
Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said the BJP has strengthened its position since the last civic elections. "In 2017, the BJP was the number one party even then. We are number one now as well. But the difference is much bigger. Last time, we had around 1600 corporators. This time, the number has crossed 3300," he said.
On Monday, while felicitating the winners of municipal corporation polls in Nagpur, Fadnavis said that 65 per cent of all the corporators were from the BJP. "The results reflect public support for Prime Minister Narendra Modi's development agenda and the Maharashtra government's progressive vision," the CM stated.
Fadnavis added that the outcome had also proved the Mahayuti government's strong grassroots connect with the people. "This winning momentum of the council polls should continue for the upcoming municipal corporation elections, too," Fadnavis urged party workers and leaders.
Meanwhile, revenue minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule, who was present during the felicitation ceremony, maintained that the Mahayuti would put up a united front for the elections to the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) and other civic bodies. The BMC and 28 other municipal corporations' polls will be held on January 15, and counting will be conducted the next day.
According to leaders from the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena, the party is keen on contesting 100-plus seats, and the BJP, too, is insisting on nearly 150 seats for the BMC. There are 227 electoral wards in the BMC. "The CM [Fadnavis] and Deputy CM [Shinde] will sit together and sort out the issues within the Mahayuti over the seat sharing for the municipal corporation polls," a Mumbai BJP party leader added.
Shiv Sena (UBT) and the Raj Thackeray-led Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) are said to be finalising their seat-sharing arrangement. Party leaders said that the cousins are likely to make a formal announcement this week. According to both Sena camps, the MNS chief and Sena (UBT) head will hold a joint press conference to reveal the seat-sharing formula and their plans to secure the prestigious BMC and other municipal corporations.
