16 January,2026 06:39 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
CM Devendra Fadnavis, along with party leaders, at the BJP headquarters in South Mumbai. PIC/SAYYED SAMEER ABEDI
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is on the cusp of scripting history in Mumbai's local politics, emerging as the single-largest party in the 227-member Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) and moving steadily towards a first-ever outright victory in India's richest civic body.
Early trends and partial results from the counting of votes on Friday indicate that the BJP has significantly improved upon its 2017 performance, when it had secured 82 seats. Currently, the BJP is leading in 90 wards across Mumbai.
The BJP is contesting the polls as part of the Mahayuti alliance, along with the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena. The Shinde faction has also put up a strong show, leading in around 28 wards. Together, the Mahayuti bloc has reportedly crossed the majority mark in several trend reports, with leads in over 125 wards. A total of 114 seats are required to secure a clear majority in the BMC.
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In contrast, the opposition Shivshakti alliance - comprising Shiv Sena (UBT), the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS), and factions of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) - has lagged behind. Depending on the phase of counting, the alliance has been leading in roughly 66 to 85 seats. The Congress is ahead or has won in about 15 wards, while the Ajit Pawar-led NCP is confined to a handful of seats, with independents and smaller parties accounting for around eight to nine wards.
If current trends translate into final results, the BJP-led alliance is set to install its first-ever mayor in the BMC, ending decades of Shiv Sena dominance over Mumbai's civic body. Despite its growing footprint in Mumbai over the years, the BJP has never previously managed to gain full control of the BMC, either independently or through an alliance.
The civic elections were held on January 15 after prolonged delays caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, delimitation-related disputes and administrative hurdles.
Voter turnout stood at around 52.94 per cent, according to State Election Commission data.
The BJP-Shiv Sena (Shinde) alliance campaigned under the leadership of Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, focusing on a development-oriented agenda. The campaign highlighted infrastructure projects, slum redevelopment, cleanliness initiatives and urban governance reforms undertaken by the Mahayuti government.
Local civic issues such as pothole-free roads, water supply and action against encroachments featured prominently in the campaign.
The ruling alliance also countered opposition attacks, including allegations of being an "anti-Marathi establishment" raised by Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray and MNS chief Raj Thackeray. The focus on civic delivery and governance appears to have resonated with voters across several parts of the city.
Until 2017, the undivided Shiv Sena had held sway over the BMC for decades, often leading or dominating coalitions. Although the BJP emerged as the single largest party in 2017, its alliance with the undivided Shiv Sena prevented a complete takeover. The political landscape, however, changed significantly after the 2022 split in the Shiv Sena, with the Eknath Shinde faction aligning with the BJP, tilting the balance decisively in the saffron party's favour.
As counting progressed on Thursday, celebratory scenes were reported outside BJP offices in Mumbai, with senior leaders, including Ashish Shelar, thanking voters for their support. The opposition raised some concerns over the counting process in pockets, but these appeared to have limited impact on the overall outcome.
The Mahayuti's strong performance in Mumbai mirrors its showing across other municipal corporations in Maharashtra, including Pune, Nagpur and Thane, reinforcing the alliance's dominance in urban centres following the state assembly elections.
The final official results from the State Election Commission are awaited, but current trends point to a landmark moment in Mumbai's civic politics, with a BJP-led administration poised to take charge of the BMC and potentially reshape the city's governance priorities in the years ahead.
