BMC elections 2026: Shiv Sena (UBT) distributes AB forms, official list of candidates awaited

Uddhav Thackeray. File Pic

The Shiv Sena (UBT) on Monday began distributing AB forms to party candidates for the upcoming Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections, even as it did not release the official list, reported news agency PTI.

AB forms are necessary for filing nomination as the official candidate of a party.

The Shiv Sena (UBT) is contesting the BMC elections 2026 in alliance with the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena. The Uddhav Thackeray-led party is contesting over 150 seats but is yet to officially announce the exact number.

Sources told PTI that the forms were given to the kin of several party MPs and MLAs. These include Rajool Patil, daughter of Mumbai Northeast MP Sanjay Dina Patil, and Ankit Prabhu, son of Dindoshi MLA Suresh Prabhu.

Many Yuva Sena office bearers have also been given the forms.

Corporators who stayed with Thackeray after the split in the Shiv Sena in 2022 have also been rewarded with party tickets, the sources told PTI.

December 30 is the last date for filing nominations for the January 15 BMC elections 2026. Votes will be counted on January 16.

BMC elections 2026: 401 nominations received so far ahead of Dec 30 deadline

Meanwhile, a total of 357 nomination papers were filed on Monday, a day before the submission process closes for the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation elections, taking the cumulative tally so far to 401.

The BMC stated that nomination papers will be accepted between 11 AM and 5 PM on Tuesday.

Of the 357 nominations filed at 23 Returning Officers' offices across the city, the highest 29 papers were filed at K-west and P-North wards.

In the first four working days, just 44 nominations were filed across the city, according to a release.

A total of 1,225 nomination forms were distributed on the fifth day of the nomination process across 23 returning officer (RO) offices in the city since December 23, when the poll schedule was declared.

Over five days, a total of 11,568 nomination forms have been distributed, the BMC added.

The maximum forms on a single day were distributed on December 23 (4,165), followed by December 24 (2,844), December 26 (2,040), December 27 (1,294), and December 29 (1,225).

BMC elections 2026: for 227 seats will be held on January 15 and votes will be counted on the following day.

(With inputs from PTI)