BMC Elections 2026: Seat-sharing talks drag on as alliances scramble before nomination deadline

With less than two days left for filing nominations, key political alliances in Maharashtra are yet to finalise seat-sharing arrangements for the BMC Elections 2026 and other civic polls, leaving several aspirants anxious amid ongoing negotiations

Mumbai civic body polls: Delay in seat-sharing talks leaves party aspirants anxious

Shiv Sena chief and Deputy CM Eknath Shinde and CM Devendra Fadnavis. File pic

With less than two days remaining for the filing of nominations, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)–Shiv Sena alliance and the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS)–Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) combine have resolved much of their seat-sharing arrangements for the upcoming civic elections.

However, a workable formula is yet to be finalised for the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) Elections 2026 and polls to 28 other municipal corporations, leaving several aspirants anxious across both camps.

Sources said negotiations have hit a roadblock in Marathi-dominated pockets such as Dadar, Bhandup, and Sewri, along with a few other municipal wards, where the Thackeray cousins are finding it difficult to arrive at an amicable seat-sharing arrangement.

Elections to the 227 wards of the BMC and 28 other municipal corporations are scheduled for January 15, with counting to be held the following day.

“There is no issue among the Thackeray cousins and their respective parties. Uddhav and Raj will emerge as winners for the BMC,” Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut said. He added that the distribution of AB forms—key documents that officially confirm a candidate’s approval by a political party—has already begun.

However, Raut declined to disclose details of the seat-sharing formula or specify which seats would be contested by the MNS and Shiv Sena (UBT).

On the Mahayuti front, the BJP and the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena are yet to make a formal announcement on their alliance for the BMC and other key municipal corporations, including Thane, Navi Mumbai, Kalyan-Dombivli, Pune and Nashik. Leaders from both parties, however, claimed that clarity would emerge by Monday morning or afternoon.

Meanwhile, MNS chief Raj Thackeray has called a meeting of party office bearers at Rangsharda in Bandra on Monday morning. While the official agenda is not known, party insiders said the meeting is likely to be used to explain the party’s acceptance of fewer seats from Shiv Sena (UBT) in the interest of Marathi unity and Maharashtra.

“Rajsaheb, through his speech, may also try to pacify aspirants who did not receive tickets,” an MNS leader said on condition of anonymity.

In another development, the Nationalist Congress Party (Sharadchandra Pawar) is considering contesting the BMC Elections 2026 in alliance with the Thackeray cousins.

“Sharad Pawar’s NCP had asked for a certain number of seats. Not all, but most of the seats we have agreed to and given from the Shiv Sena (UBT) quota. We genuinely want NCP (SP) to be with us in the alliance. Now, their party will have to take a final call,” Raut said.

Ajit Pawar’s NCP to go solo in BMC polls

The Mahayuti almost lost a partner for the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections, with Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar’s Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) indicating it will not contest the civic polls in alliance with the BJP–Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena. The BJP has reportedly opposed Ajit Pawar’s NCP, citing the controversial role of NCP MLA Nawab Malik in the BMC polls.