Maharashtra Municipal Corporation Elections: Mahayuti's unopposed civic poll win sparks fresh political storm

On BMC elections, Congress leader Varsha Gaikwad says," I had thought that Ameet Satam ji (Mumbai BJP President) would have a vision for Mumbai, but since he has become the president, he has not spoken on anything else except Hindu-Muslim...What work have you done in Mumbai so far? What is your vision on garbage disposal?... They talk about illegal Bangladeshis living in India. I want to ask him whose government has been in power for the last 11 years? What is the double engine govt doing?... You don't want to talk about Mumbai, but only about the politics of religion. We only want development for Mumbai and nothing else..."

On BMC elections, NCP leader Nawab Malik says," We have released the manifesto which talks about making Mumbai a dust-free city. We have also spoken about constructing working women's hostels in the city..." On the BJP alliance with AIMIM in Akot and with Congress in Ambarnath, he says," The veil has been lifted from the face of the party which used to talk about a Congress-free India."

Taking a stern view of the reported alliance with the AIMIM in Akot, BJP state president Ravindra Chavan has initiated strict disciplinary action, signalling zero tolerance for moves that go against the party line. A show-cause notice has been issued to Akot MLA Prakash Bharsakhale, seeking an explanation over the controversy that has embarrassed the party at the state level. According to the notice, Bharsakhale has been asked to clarify how the “so-called alliance” with the AIMIM came into existence and why the party leadership was not taken into confidence. The notice states that the development has tarnished the BJP’s image and created confusion about its official stand, especially at a time when the party is emphasising discipline and ideological clarity.

The Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) has released its manifesto for the 2026 Mumbai Municipal Corporation elections. 

Fadnavis intervened and instructed local BJP units to withdraw from both alliances, signalling the party leadership’s discomfort with such tie-ups and an effort to rein in deviations from its stated political line. “I am making it very clear that any alliance with the Congress or the AIMIM will not be accepted. If any local leader has taken such a decision on their own, it is wrong in terms of discipline, and action will be taken," Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis told a news channel, as reported by PTI. He said instructions had already been issued to undo these alliances.

Fadnavis’s remarks came after the BJP entered into post-poll arrangements with rival parties in municipal councils following last month’s civic elections, drawing sharp reactions from allies as well as the opposition.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has expressed strong displeasure over local political tie-ups entered into by BJP units and has directed them to immediately end their alliances with Congress and AIMIM Ambarnath and Akot, respectively, for the state municipal corporation elections next week. The controversy arose after reports emerged that the BJP had forged alliances with the Congress in Ambarnath and with AIMIM in Akot for local body elections. The developments drew sharp criticism from Shiv Sena MP Eknath Shinde and his son Shrikant, who questioned the BJP’s decision to partner with rival parties at the local level. Read the full story 

All 12 corporators who allied with the BJP in the Ambernath Municipal Council have been suspended by the Congress party. The Block Congress Committee has also been dissolved.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Wednesday (January 7) firmly ruled out any alliance with the Congress, calling such an arrangement "unacceptable." He clarified that the decision taken at the local level in Ambernath would be corrected. The clarification comes in the wake of a surprising political development in the Ambernath Municipal Council, where the BJP and Congress reportedly joined hands to stop the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena from coming to power. The move has significantly heightened political tensions in the state. READ

Days ahead of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections, Asaduddin Owaisi-led AIMIM faced a major political setback in Maharashtra after four out of its five elected councillors in the Akot Municipal Council of Akola district abandoned the party. The dramatic shift has reshaped the local political scenario, with two councillors pledging support to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and two aligning with NCP (Ajit Pawar). READ

A political drama has unfolded for the MIM in Maharashtra's Akola district. In the Akot Municipal Council of Akola district, 5 MIM councilors were elected. However, 4 of these 5 councilors have now left the MIM. Two of the MIM councilors are supporting the BJP, and two are supporting the NCP (Ajit Pawar faction).

What is the whole story?

The Akot Municipal Council has a total of 35 seats. Elections were recently held for 33 of these seats. In this election, the BJP won 11 seats. The MIM came in third place with 5 councilors elected. 17 councilors are needed to form a majority.

Current Situation:

• BJP:11
• MIM: 5
• Shinde Sena: 1
• Shiv Sena (UBT): 2
• NCP (Ajit Pawar): 2
• NCP (Sharad Pawar):1
• Congress: 6
• Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi" 2
• Prahar Janshakti: 3

The BJP is bringing together councilors from opposition parties under the banner of 'Akot Vikas Manch'. The BJP has included councilors from the Shinde Sena, Shiv Sena (UBT), NCP (Sharad Pawar), NCP (Ajit Pawar), Bachchu Kadu's Prahar Janshakti, and 4 councilors from the MIM in the Akot Vikas Manch. A letter regarding this has also been submitted to the Akola Collector by the BJP. In the Akot Municipal Council, the Congress and Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi are now in the opposition, and the MIM is left with only one councilor.

Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has made it clear that an alliance with the Congress is not acceptable. The decision taken at the local level in Ambernath will be rectified; there will be no alliance with the Congress.

Maharashtra Deputy CM Ajit Pawar holds a roadshow in Pune.

The BJP, which had been campaigning for a "Congress-free India," has directly allied with the Congress party in the Ambernath Municipal Council in Thane. The BJP joined hands with the Congress in Ambernath, located just 70 kilometers from Mumbai, to keep the Shinde faction of the Shiv Sena out of power. This BJP-Congress alliance has heated up the political atmosphere and caused a stir in state politics. This alliance has been named the "Ambernath Vikas Aghadi" (Ambernath Development Front). However, these developments have caused considerable discontent within the Shiv Sena's Shinde group. The Shinde faction is furious after the BJP-Congress alliance. The Shiv Sena Shinde group has launched a scathing attack on the BJP, calling the alliance an "unholy alliance." MLA Dr. Balaji Kinikar of the Shinde group has accused the BJP, which had advocated for a Congress-free India, of attacking the Shiv Sena by forming an alliance with the Congress.

The Shiv Sena (UBT) has released a teaser for an interview featuring Uddhav and Raj Thackeray. In this interview, the Thackeray brothers discussed several issues, including the Hindu Marathi mayor controversy.

Senior leaders of the Mahayuti alliance have intensified campaigning for the municipal corporation elections across Maharashtra. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis is scheduled to address election rallies for the Latur, Bhiwandi, Ulhasnagar, Kalyan-Dombivli and Thane municipal corporations. Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde will campaign in Mumbai, where he will hold three rallies, after completing his visits to Amravati and Akola. Meanwhile, Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar will focus on the Pune Municipal Corporation, where he is set to address five rallies today.

A woman whistleblower who exposed the Badlapur school sexual assault case has joined the Ajit Pawar-led Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) ahead of the civic polls in Maharashtra. Sangeeta Chendvankar, who formerly led the women's wing of Raj Thackeray's Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) in Badlapur, was inducted into the NCP at a function in the town on Tuesday. Chendvankar gained prominence in August 2024 as the primary whistleblower in the Badlapur school case, where two 4-year-old girls were allegedly sexually assaulted by a contractual sweeper. She had played a key role in mobilising the parents and ensuring the matter reached the police and the public. Chendvankar later contested the 2024 Maharashtra assembly polls from Murbad constituency in Thane district on the MNS ticket but faced defeat.

CM Devendra Fadnavis posted on X, "During the municipal election campaign in Nagpur, I interacted with the massive crowds present at the grand public meetings held at Borgaon Chowk, Tiranga Chowk, and Trimurti Nagar. I was overwhelmed by the public's response on this occasion. I have a very old and deep connection with Nagpur. It is because of Nagpur that a humble worker like me could become the Chief Minister."

Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde said there was no alternative to his party, the Shiv Sena, if Navi Mumbai was to witness development. "There is no alternative to the `bow and arrow' (Sena symbol) for Navi Mumbai's progress," Shinde said, speaking at a roadshow in Airoli ahead of the January 15 municipal elections. Notably, Navi Mumbai is considered to be a stronghold of state BJP minister Ganesh Naik who has controlled the civic body for over two and a half decades. Naik, once the guardian minister of undivided Thane district, and Shinde are old rivals. Seat-sharing talks for the Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation between Shiv Sena and BJP did not work out, hence the two allies are contesting the elections separately.

Shiv Sena MP Shrikant Shinde, when asked about the alliance in Ambernath, said that this question is entirely for our ally, the Bharatiya Janata Party. BJP leaders will be able to answer this question better. For many years, the BJP and Shiv Sena have been in an alliance at the central, state, and municipal levels. This alliance should remain unbroken. Shiv Sena was in power in Ambernath, and Shiv Sena carried out significant development work there. Now, whatever decision they want to take, Shiv Sena will be with those who pursue development-oriented politics.

AIMIM leader Asaduddin Owaisi said voters can accept money being distributed by political parties during elections and use it for constructing toilets if they feel it is an unethical practice. Addressing a rally for the upcoming Latur civic polls, Owaisi attacked the Narendra Modi government over its foreign policy and also criticised the Waqf (amendment) Act. "Rival political parties started distributing cash among voters only after the AIMIM entered the fray. Had we not fielded candidates, money wouldn't have been distributed....Take money and if you feel it is unethical and 'haram' (illegitimate), use it to build toilets," he said.

AIMIM leader Asaduddin Owaisi alleged the Mahayuti constituents are doing a "drama" of contesting the Latur civic body polls independently. "Leaders of BJP, Shiv Sena, and NCP sit together in Mumbai, while a drama goes on here of separate contests," he told reporters. Owaisi said AIMIM candidates are receiving excellent response from people, and they will win the upcoming polls to municipal corporations.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis took a dig at the Opposition parties for targeting the ruling Mahayuti over its unopposed victories at 68 places in the upcoming civic polls in the state, asking what could he do if they felt the sting. "Tumko mirchi lagi toh main kya karoon (what can I do if you feel the sting and get offended)?" the CM targeted the opponents while addressing a rally in Dhule of north Maharashtra for the January 15 polls to 29 municipal corporations in the state.

The CM thanked voters for electing four BJP corporators unopposed in Dhule. "We accept the support wholeheartedly," he said. "As many as 35 Lok Sabha MPs have been elected unopposed so far, of whom 33 were elected during the Congress rule," he said.

NCP (SP) leader and Baramati MP Supriya Sule has alleged large-scale irregularities in the local body elections in Maharashtra, flagging the unopposed election of candidates in several places. She said that there have been media reports of candidates being threatened and forced to withdraw, bogus voting, and inducements being offered to voters. Despite elections being held after a gap of seven to eight years, a large number of seats are being decided unopposed (with rival candidates withdrawing from the fray), effectively denying voters the right to vote even though the NOTA option exists, Sule said in a statement. The Election Commission's inaction amid these developments was a matter of even greater concern, she said, adding, "This situation is extremely dangerous for a healthy democracy."