BMC Election 2026: Christian community body UCF endorses 14 candidates ahead of Mumbai civic polls

Alexander D’Souza, founder-president, Mumbai-centric UCF. PIC/BY SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT

The United Christian Front (UCF), a civic body established in 2021 with the aim to encourage and push for more Christian community participation in political life, has extended its support to 14 candidates from the community across political parties for the forthcoming Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections scheduled for January 15.

The founder-president of the Mumbai-centric UCF, advocate Alexander D'Souza, said, "Since our inception in 2018, we have been encouraging and guiding the community through inviting speakers and having meetings about how to participate in political life. We had a meeting with Cardinal Oswald Gracias a couple of years ago [pre-2022], as the BMC elections were supposed to be held in 2022 but were delayed. Several from the community heard him express support for us and this initiative. We want people to understand that one has to be in the system to be heard. One cannot sit outside and then expect to be heard."

For the UCF, which has an office in Kurla, a big part is changing mindsets in the community. The UCF said collectively, "By and large, we do not say every single person, but overall, the Christian community prefers to stay away from political participation, by which we mean actually contesting and becoming a part of the system. There is certainly a kind of taboo which needs to be addressed. Many within the community think that politics per se is bad. We have been working to change that. There has to be an awakening that good people can come into this field. We cannot stay away from politics now. It is an integral part of life."

D'Souza further said, "We at the UCF know that it is one thing calling in speakers and having meetings, but it is also important to be ‘seen' on the ground and get involved in the campaigns to prove that we are supporting those from the community who are taking a leap into politics. We are talking local here; the focus is on civic issues, so the BMC elections are the perfect platform to get into the system."

D'Souza and other UCF members campaigned for several Christian candidates across different parties. They emphasised, "While this is for the community, the candidates must have calibre too and work for the people."

"These 14 candidates also have the support of others because of their social work and are well known in their respective wards. These are from the Congress, the Shiv Sena [UBT], the NCP [AP], the Aam Aadmi Party, and a number of Independents. By supporting, I mean getting involved in their campaigning on the ground, being present at the inauguration of their new offices, and spreading the word in respective areas about them, through material and on social media," D'Souza further said.

D'Souza believes the January 15 polls are a springboard to many more from the community participating in public life. "We will look forward to formal participation, which includes voting, advocating for certain candidates and, most importantly, running for office," the UCF founder-president signed off.