BJP-Shiv Sena (Shinde faction) take BMC’s top post, but election maths show the city remains politically split; the undivided Shiv Sena had ruled the country’s richest municipal corporation for over two decades, seating 12 mayors across five terms between 1996 and 2022
BJP workers celebrate at the party’s Nariman Point office after Friday’s results. Pics/Sayyed Sameer Abedi
Mumbai is set for a historic political shift after Friday’s Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation election results signalled the end of the Shiv Sena’s long dominance over the city’s civic body. For the first time since 1996, the undivided Shiv Sena will not control the Mayor’s office. According to the information available till Friday evening, the Bharatiya Janata Party, along with its ally Shiv Sena, is poised to cross the halfway mark of 114 seats in the 227-member Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), giving the alliance a clear majority and opening the door for the BJP to secure Mumbai’s Mayor’s post for the first time.
The undivided Shiv Sena had ruled the country’s richest municipal corporation for over two decades, seating 12 mayors across five terms between 1996 and 2022. While the BJP’s rise marks a symbolic shift in Mumbai’s political identity, analysts note that the party’s numerical gains remain modest. Despite splitting the Shiv Sena, the BJP has managed to secure only four more seats than its 2017 tally.
BMC Election 2026 Results: Parties and the number of winning candidates
Tejasvee Ghosalkar, (daughter-in-law of Vinod Ghosalkar, UBT leader) who recently joined BJP, won from Dahisar East. Pic/Nimesh Dave
Historically, the Shiv Sena first dominated the BMC between 1985 and 1991 and returned to power in 1996 with 103 seats, defeating the Congress. At the time, the BJP had won just 26 seats. In the 2017 civic elections, the contest tightened significantly, with the BJP winning 82 seats and the undivided Shiv Sena 84.
Political observers say the results underline both change and continuity. Analyst Sanjay Patil said the BJP had aimed to win the Mayor’s post independently and marginalise the Thackerays in Mumbai. “The numbers show that it is not possible to write off the Thackerays from the city,” he said.The Congress’s performance also surprised many. “There was a perception that Congress was not contesting the BMC seriously, but the numbers tell a different story,” Patil said, pointing out that the party won 23 seats compared to 31 in 2017. He added that Muslim voters appeared to have consolidated against the BJP, with AIMIM and the Samajwadi Party winning seven and eight seats respectively.
Ajit Raorane, NCP-SP leader, celebrates after securing a win in Malad East. Pic/Satej Shinde
Political analyst Prakash Akolkar said the results showed the limits of the BJP’s strategy. “Even after splitting the Shiv Sena and bringing 40 MLAs into the BJP fold, Devendra Fadnavis could improve the party’s tally by only four seats. The BJP would not have reached this position in Mumbai without Eknath Shinde,” he said. Taken together, the Shiv Sena and Shiv Sena (UBT), though now rivals, have still crossed the 100-seat mark, reinforcing the party’s enduring influence in the city.
UBT’s strong hold
In the G South ward, which includes areas such as Worli, Mahalaxmi, and parts of Prabhadevi, there are seven electoral wards that form part of Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray’s assembly constituency. The Thackeray camp won all seven seats, with the Shiv Sena (UBT) securing six seats and the MNS winning one.
Similarly, in the G North ward, which comprises areas of Dadar and Mahim along with parts of Dharavi, and is home to Shiv Sena Bhavan and the iconic Shivaji Park where Shiv Sena founder Bal Thackeray addressed his first rally in 1966, the Thackeray camp won seven of the 11 wards.
*2017 numbers are from the time election results were declared, and 2026 numbers are taken at 11.30 pm on Friday
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