Maharashtra civic polls: Mahayuti set to rule Mumbai; saffron storm across the state

Mahayuti win boosts Maharashtra’s development drive: Gadkari

Union minister and BJP leader Nitin Gadkari on Friday congratulated the BJP–Shiv Sena alliance on its performance in the Maharashtra civic polls, calling it a resounding success across the state’s municipal corporations.

In a post on X, Gadkari said, “Heartfelt congratulations to Chief Minister Shri Devendra Fadnavis ji, Deputy Chief Minister Shri Eknath Shinde ji, BJP State President Shri Ravindra Chavan ji, Shri Chandrashekhar Bawankule ji, and all party workers on the resounding success of the BJP-Shiv Sena alliance in the general elections of all 29 municipal corporations in Maharashtra.”

He also thanked voters for backing the ruling alliance. “Gratitude to the people of the state who have shown faith in the BJP-Mahayuti by prioritising development,” Gadkari said.

Terming the mandate a boost for the state government, he said, “This victory will give further momentum to the Mahayuti government in the state, which is racing ahead on the path of development.”

Expressing confidence about the road ahead, Gadkari added that he was certain “the journey towards a progressive Maharashtra will gain even greater strength under the guidance of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi ji and the leadership of Chief Minister Shri Devendra ji.”

BJP lead dips as Congress, AIMIM make gains in in Malegaon

As counting progressed, the BJP’s commanding lead narrowed slightly by 4:25 pm, with the party having either won or leading in 19 of the 29 municipal corporations across Maharashtra, according to trends.

The Congress, which stayed out of all major alliances in this round of civic polls, had emerged victorious or was ahead in five municipal corporations, reported the Hindustan Times.

Meanwhile, the AIMIM led by Asaduddin Owaisi was shaping up as a significant force in Malegaon, where it was leading with 20 seats, as per the latest trends.

65 candidates elected unopposed in Maharashtra civic polls: SEC

As many as 65 candidates from ten municipal corporations in Maharashtra were elected unopposed ahead of the civic polls held on January 15, the State Election Commission (SEC) said on Friday.

The data was released on the day counting began for elections to 29 municipal bodies that went to the polls on Thursday.

The BJP accounted for the highest number of uncontested wins with 43 candidates, followed by ally Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena with 18. Two candidates from the Nationalist Congress Party, one Independent and one from the Indian Secular Largest Assembly of Maharashtra were also elected unopposed.

Kalyan-Dombivli in Thane district recorded the highest number, with 20 candidates elected without contest, including 16 from the BJP and six from the Shiv Sena. Two BJP candidates each were elected unopposed in Pimpri Chinchwad and Pune, while six BJP candidates won uncontested in Bhiwandi Nizampur.

Panvel saw seven such victories, including six BJP nominees and one Independent. In Jalgaon, 12 candidates were elected unopposed, evenly split between the BJP and Shiv Sena. All four uncontested winners in Dhule were from the BJP, while all six in Thane belonged to the Shiv Sena. In Ahilyanagar, three BJP and two NCP candidates were elected without a contest.

State Election Commissioner Dinesh Waghmare had said that “reports have been sought from municipal commissioners” regarding instances where ruling coalition candidates were elected unopposed. However, the SEC’s break-up of uncontested victories does not address this issue.

(With agency inputs)

Mumbai wants only development, says Sanjay Nirupam after civic polls

Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Nirupam on Friday said the outcome of the Maharashtra civic polls reflected Mumbai’s clear preference for development-driven politics.

In a post on X, Nirupam said, “Whoever speaks for Mumbai’s interests will rule over Mumbai,” adding that the city’s political priorities have evolved significantly over time. “A quarter of the new century has passed, and the city has taught us much as it has gone by,” he said.

Emphasising Mumbai’s changing outlook, Nirupam noted that the metropolis had moved beyond narrow divisions. “Today’s Mumbai has moved far beyond the squabbles of language and province,” he said.

He underlined that citizens were focused on civic quality and governance. “It wants clean air, pure water, and a spotless, shining city,” Nirupam said, rejecting what he described as divisive politics. “Not ideas soaked in poison or narratives reeking of stench,” he added.

Summing up the public mood, Nirupam said, “Mumbaikars have set the agenda—development, development, and only development.”

Congress wins Latur civic body, BJP trails with 22 seats

The Congress, which contested the elections independently this time, has emerged victorious in the Latur Municipal Corporation, winning 43 of the 70 seats, officials said.

The BJP finished a distant second with 22 seats, according to the results.

Latur has traditionally been a Congress bastion and was once a stronghold of the party under the late former chief minister Vilasrao Deshmukh.

BJP writes history in civic polls, says CM Fadnavis

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Friday praised the BJP’s performance in the Maharashtra civic polls, saying the party had once again created history in the Municipal Corporation Elections 2025–26.

In a post on X, Fadnavis said, “BJP writes history once again at the Municipal Corporation Election 2025–26,” describing the outcome as a significant milestone for the party.

He attributed the success to the “visionary leadership of Hon PM Narendra Modi Ji,” and also acknowledged the guidance of BJP national president and Union minister J. P. Nadda, Union Home and Cooperation Minister Amitbhai Shah, BJP national working president Nitin Nabin, and the efforts of state BJP president MLA Ravindra Chavan and party workers.

Calling it a collective achievement, Fadnavis said the BJP had secured “a momentous victory in the state once again.”

He added that the result underscored public confidence in the party, saying, “This victory reflects people’s trust in BJP’s vision ensuring progress and development.”

Gauri Lankesh murder accused wins Jalna civic poll as independent

Shrikant Pangarkar, one of the accused in the 2017 murder of journalist Gauri Lankesh, has won the Jalna Municipal Corporation election after contesting as an independent candidate.

According to a Hindustan Times report, Pangarkar entered the civic polls as an independent despite having joined the Shiv Sena in November 2024. His induction into the party, however, was subsequently kept in abeyance by Shiv Sena chief Eknath Shinde following widespread criticism and public outcry.

The victory has drawn attention, given Pangarkar’s alleged role in the high-profile killing of Lankesh, even as the legal proceedings in the case continue.

Mahayuti leads in 8 of 9 MMR civic bodies; BVA ahead in Vasai-Virar

In line with the broader statewide trend, the BJP-led Mahayuti was ahead in eight of the nine municipal corporations in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR) as per trends available at 3:50 pm. The MMR accounts for over 20 per cent of Maharashtra’s population.

An exception was the Vasai-Virar Municipal Corporation, where the Bahujan Vikas Aghadi, led by former MLA Hitendra Thakur, was leading in 65 wards, while the BJP was ahead in 48.

According to the trends, the BJP and Shiv Sena alliance was on course for a comfortable win in the remaining eight municipal corporations across the MMR.

Mahayuti leads in 24 of 29 civic bodies, crosses halfway in BMC

The Bharatiya Janata Party and its Mahayuti alliance with Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena were leading in 24 of the 29 municipal corporations across Maharashtra, according to trends available at 3:30 pm.

The ruling combine was ahead in key civic bodies, including Mumbai, Pune, Thane, Navi Mumbai and Nagpur. In the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation, the BJP-led alliance had crossed the halfway mark in the 227-member House, as per the latest trends.

Maharashtra civic polls: BJP on course for majority, says Bawankule

Maharashtra Revenue Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule on Friday said the BJP was on course to secure a majority in the civic body elections and voiced confidence that the party-led Mahayuti alliance would achieve a two-thirds majority.

He said the verdict reflected the people of Maharashtra voting in favour of development.

According to trends, the BJP and its ally Shiv Sena were leading in the crucial Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation polls across 210 of the city’s 227 wards. The BJP was also ahead in several other municipal corporations, the trends showed.

Addressing reporters in Nagpur, Bawankule said the emerging numbers indicated the BJP would cross the majority mark with a “51 per cent vote share”, adding that the Mahayuti was poised for a two-thirds majority.

He said the BJP was putting up a strong performance in the Nagpur Municipal Corporation elections, attributing it to public support for the development vision of Union minister Nitin Gadkari and Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis.

Bawankule added that voters had placed their trust in the “double-engine” governments — the Centre led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the state government headed by Devendra Fadnavis.

Polling for elections to 29 civic bodies across Maharashtra was held on Thursday, with vote counting underway on Friday.

(With agency inputs)