BJP Emerges as Single-Largest Party in Maharashtra Civic Polls
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) delivered a historic performance in the Maharashtra municipal elections 2026. The party emerged as the single-largest force after securing a decisive victory in Mumbai. It also gained commanding leads in several major urban centres across the state. According to data released by the State Election Commission at 10:30 pm, the BJP won 1,372 seats across 29 municipal corporations. The Shiv Sena finished second with 394 seats. The Congress placed third with 315 seats, while the Sena (UBT) secured 149 seats. Overall, the results indicate a clear shift in Maharashtra’s urban political landscape.
BJP–Shinde Sena Alliance Ends Thackeray Era in BMC
The most consequential outcome emerged from the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC). For the first time in nearly three decades, the BJP and the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena dismantled the dominance of the undivided Shiv Sena led by the Thackeray family. Until now, Mumbai was widely seen as the Sena’s strongest bastion. However, voters delivered a decisive mandate in favour of the BJP-led alliance. Similarly, in Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad, the BJP registered a massive victory. It decisively outperformed the NCP factions led by Sharad Pawar and Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar. Moreover, the party maintained strong leads in Thane, Navi Mumbai, Kalyan-Dombivali, and Nashik.
Mahayuti Poised to Control 25 Civic Bodies, Modi Welcomes Verdict
Following the trends, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis announced that the BJP-led Mahayuti alliance is set to form governments in 25 of the 29 municipal corporations. Subsequently, he addressed jubilant party workers in south Mumbai. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi thanked voters for what he described as an emphatic mandate. He said the outcome reflected public faith in the NDA’s pro-people governance agenda. Importantly, polling for 2,869 civic seats recorded a turnout of 54.77 per cent. Earlier, several exit polls had predicted a strong showing for the Mahayuti alliance. Consequently, control of the cash-rich BMC now appears firmly within reach of the ruling combine.
Opposition Reunions Falter as AIMIM Makes Inroads
At the same time, the results exposed the limitations of opposition unity in Maharashtra. The reunion of the Thackeray cousins failed to reclaim Mumbai’s civic body. Likewise, the coming together of the Pawar factions did not translate into expected gains. Nevertheless, both alliances avoided a complete rout. Meanwhile, the AIMIM emerged as a key gainer, registering notable successes in Muslim-dominated wards across the state. Additionally, independent candidate Shrikant Pangarkar won a corporator seat in Jalna, while the Congress, contesting with the Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi, secured Latur. Taken together, the verdict underscores the BJP’s expanding dominance in Maharashtra’s urban political arena.
