Maharashtra Municipal Elections: BJP-Shiv Sena Alliance Wins Big, Thackeray Brothers And Pawars Suffer Setback

Mumbai: The Mahayuti alliance, comprising the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena, has swept the Maharashtra local body elections, securing control over most civic bodies across the state. The sweeping victory of the Mahayuti also ended the 25-year reign of Uddhav Thackeray's Shiv Sena in Mumbai's Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC). The alliance has clinched victories in key cities, including Mumbai, Navi Mumbai, Pune, Panvel, Dhule, Ulhasnagar, Jalgaon, Sangli-Miraj-Kupwad, and Jalna. 

In Mumbai, the BJP-Shiv Sena combine secured 118 out of 227 seats, with the BJP emerging as the single largest party with 89 seats. The win is seen as a major endorsement of the Mahayuti government's development agenda. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis hailed the victory as a "massive mandate" and attributed it to the alliance's focus on development and honesty in governance. Deputy CM Eknath Shinde credited the win to the coalition's efforts and commitment to transforming Mumbai into a global financial hub.

The results also reflected a setback for the Congress and Ajit Pawar's NCP, which failed to make any mark in key cities like Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad. The AIMIM, however, emerged as a surprise winner, securing 95 seats across the state, including eight in Mumbai.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated the people of Maharashtra for blessing the NDA's agenda of pro-people governance. The victory is expected to boost the Mahayuti government's plans to drive development and growth in the state.

"Thank you Maharashtra! The dynamic people of the state bless the NDA’s agenda of pro-people, good governance! The results of various municipal corporation elections indicate that the NDA’s bond with the people of Maharashtra has further deepened. Our track record and vision for development have struck a chord. My gratitude to the people across  Maharashtra. This is a vote to add momentum to progress and celebrate the glorious culture the state is associated with," PM Modi wrote in a post on X. 

End Of Thackeray Legacy?

The Mahayuti clinched a historic victory in the BMC elections. BJP+Shinde now dominates Mumbai, effectively ending the 25-year-long stronghold of the Thackeray family in the capital city.

When Balasaheb Thackeray founded the Shiv Sena in 1966, Mumbai was the centre of his political vision. From 1997, the Shiv Sena was in uninterrupted control of the BMC, retaining power even after Raj Thackeray’s exit in 2005 and Balasaheb Thackeray’s death in 2012. However, the BJP has broken the legacy of the Thackerays in Mumbai.

In 2025, Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray and Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) President Raj Thackeray reunited after almost 20 years of separation. The much-anticipated alliance of the cousins, especially for the 2026 local elections, failed to provide them with much hold on the voters. As of now, the MNS has won just 7 seats in BMC, while Shiv Sena (UBT) has won 66 seats. Meanwhile, the Mahayuti has won 115 seats. Raj Thackeray's anti-non-Maharashtrian stand proved to have a negative impact on voters, especially in areas having a large number of non-Marathi people.

Former Union Minister Milind Deora said the BMC results have put an end to the "soap operation" of Mumbai politics, proving the city prefers progress and accountability over "melodrama and masala". He added that "family dramas" failed to steal the spotlight in BMC polls.

Pawar Reunion Flops

Meanwhile, the Ajit Pawar and Sharad Pawar reunion flopped in Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad, with the BJP taking the lead in both places. Maharashtra Deputy CM Ajit Pawar and his uncle Sharad Pawar had parted ways in 2023 after Ajit joined the BJP-led Mahayuti government, dividing the NCP into two factions.

Nearly two and a half years after splitting, the Pawars reunited in December 2025, announcing an alliance between the two NCP factions for the Pimpri-Chinchwad civic polls. However, the tactical electoral reunion, made especially for Pimpri-Chinchwad, failed to strike a chord with voters.

Ajit Pawar accepted people's vote with "full respect". Congratulating the winners, Pawar appealed to those who were not able to win to not be discouraged but to remain committed to working for the people, always keeping the welfare of the people at the center.

Strong Mahayuti Alliance

BJP's strong alliance with Eknath Shinde struck a chord with the voters of Maharashtra. Meanwhile, the opposition remained fragmented. For example, Congress refused to share a stage with Raj Thackeray due to ideological differences. Furthermore, the Mahayuti appealed to Marathi, non-Marathi voters and Hindutva voters.

While campaigning for elections, CM Devendra Fadnavis championed the development of the Marathi language and also called Hindutva the soul of the BJP. He also criticised the opposition for distancing themselves from Hindutva for vote bank politics.

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