While Mahayuti partners BJP and the Shiv Sena have joined hands for BMC Election 2026, Uddhav Thackeray’s Shiv Sena (UBT) and Raj Thackeray-led MNS have come together, citing the need to “preserve” the Marathi language and culture
Thirty-two seats have been left without a third-front contestant, effectively ruling out a split in votes. Representational pic
As many as 32 of the 227 seats in the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) Elections are set to witness a direct contest between the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)–Shiv Sena alliance led by Eknath Shinde and the Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray)–Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) combine, with no strong third-front candidate in the fray, news agency PTI reported.
This situation has emerged as the Congress–Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi (VBA) alliance has not fielded candidates in these seats. While Mahayuti partners BJP and the Shiv Sena have joined hands for BMC Election 2026, Uddhav Thackeray’s Shiv Sena (UBT) and Raj Thackeray-led MNS have come together, citing the need to “preserve” the Marathi language and culture.
PTI sources said VBA faced difficulties in fielding candidates in 21 of the 62 seats allotted to it in Mumbai. According to party sources, the VBA decided against risking these seats by nominating unsuitable candidates in some constituencies, while incomplete documentation emerged as an issue in others.
Realising the problem, VBA informed the Congress on Tuesday, December 30, that it would contest only on five of those seats, allowing the Congress to field candidates in the remaining 16 seats, the sources said.
The Congress has so far announced 143 candidates in Mumbai. With the VBA contesting on 46 seats and six seats allotted to other allies, including Left parties and the Rashtriya Samaj Party, the Congress-led alliance has put up candidates in 195 seats, PTI reported.
This arrangement leaves 32 seats without a third-front contestant, effectively ruling out a split in votes.
“This situation could benefit the Thackerays as anti-BJP votes will not split,” a senior Shiv Sena (UBT) leader said, adding that the final picture would become clear after the scrutiny of nominations.
Meanwhile, the Congress and the VBA on Wednesday rejected reports of a possible rift within the alliance in Mumbai after 16 seats from the VBA’s quota were allegedly left uncontested by either party.
BMC Election 2026: Congress and VBA deny rift over seat-sharing
“Since the announcement of our alliance, the ruling side has been losing ground. There is absolutely no dispute between us. On the contrary, our workers and leaders remain in constant communication without any glitch,” Mumbai Congress spokesperson Sachin Sawant said.
The VBA also dismissed reports of discord over seat-sharing. Party spokesperson Siddharth Mokle alleged that the ruling parties were behind such claims. “The Congress knew well in advance that the VBA would not contest those 16 seats. The Congress took appropriate action, and the reality will become clear to everyone once the scrutiny of nominations concludes,” he said.
(With PTI inputs)
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