Maharashtra: Late-Night Twist in BMC Elections, Shinde Increases Pressure on Fadnavis

Mumbai: The results of the BMC (Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation) elections and 29 other municipal corporations in Maharashtra are now clear. The Mahayuti alliance of the BJP and Shiv Sena (Eknath Shinde faction) has secured a resounding victory in 23 out of 29 municipal corporations in the state. In the BMC elections, the Mahayuti alliance won 118 out of 227 seats. The BJP and Shiv Sena’s lead in the Mumbai Municipal Corporation has attracted attention across the country, dealing a major blow to the Thackeray family’s dominance, which had lasted for 28 years. However, the electoral landscape completely changed by evening. While it was initially believed that the Mahayuti alliance, led by the BJP, would achieve a landslide victory in the BMC, the final results showed them winning only 4 seats more than the majority. The BJP secured 89 seats, while the Shiv Sena won 29.

In the Mumbai municipal corporation elections, the Congress dealt a significant blow to the Shinde faction in several seats. With 24 seats, the Congress emerged as the fourth largest party. It is also being said that if Uddhav Thackeray had joined hands with the Congress instead of his brother Raj Thackeray, the results might have been different. Uddhav’s Shiv Sena secured 65 seats in the BMC and emerged as the second largest party after the BJP. Raj Thackeray’s Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) was limited to just 6 seats. AIMIM also won 6 seats in the BMC elections.

Thus, the role of the Shinde faction has become crucial in the election for the Mayor of Mumbai. It is reported that Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde has staked his claim to the mayoral post. Meanwhile, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has clearly stated that the Mayor of Mumbai will be a Marathi, Hindu, and from the Mahayuti alliance. With the final results of the BMC elections now clear, all eyes are now on the question of who will be the next Mayor of Mumbai.