29 December,2025 05:06 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
MNS announces Yashwant Killedar to contest from Dadar. Pic/X
With just a few days to go for BMC Election 2026, Maharashtra Navnirman Sena MNS President Raj Thackeray on Monday formally kickstarted the party's campaign and announced its first candidate for the civic polls to be held on January 15, 2026.
Senior MNS leader and party spokesperson Yashwant Killedar has been handed the âAB form' to contest from the Dadar (Shivaji Park) area, news agency IANS reported. Killedar is considered to be one of the party's key leaders.
The announcement from MNS comes amid heightened political activity in Mumbai, with major parties in the process of finalising seat-sharing arrangements for the civic polls.
By issuing the AB form from Dadar, the MNS leadership has indicated that the party is preparing to intensify its ground-level mobilisation in traditional Marathi-dominated pockets of the city.
Thackeray's decision follows the recent announcement of an alliance between the MNS and Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray), headed by his cousin Uddhav, for BMC Election 2026. The alliance is aimed at consolidating Marathi votes in Mumbai.
MNS candidate Yashwant Killedar, who is a long-time MNS functionary, has been active in the Dadar-Mahim belt for several years and is considered a familiar face among local party workers. His candidature for BMC Election 2026 might help MNS win the seat.
Party sources, while briefing about election preparedness, said that the early declaration of a candidate is intended to provide organisational clarity and allow workers to begin campaign activities well in advance.
Furthermore, the Shivaji Park-Dadar region is regarded as the ideological cradle of both the undivided Shiv Sena and the MNS, and the contest in the area is expected to be keenly fought.
The seat is likely to witness a multi-cornered contest involving the MNS, Shiv Sena (UBT), and candidates backed by the Mahayuti alliance, reported IANS.
Reacting to his nomination, Killedar expressed confidence and said, "The local electorate had consistently supported Raj Thackeray's vision."
He also stated that the focus would be on addressing civic infrastructure issues while safeguarding the cultural identity of the area.
With its first candidate announced, the Raj Thackeray-led MNS is expected to unveil its full list for the 227-member civic body in phases over the coming days.
Political experts further believe the party could play a decisive role in several wards by influencing vote shares, particularly in Marathi-speaking localities.
"The upcoming BMC elections were a battle for the "existence" of the Marathi community and alleged attempts to weaken Maharashtra's hold over Mumbai," said senior MNS leader Bala Nandgaonkar.
(With inputs from IANS)
