Mumbai – In a move signaling a potential shift in the political landscape, the Congress party has announced it will contest the upcoming Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections independently. The decision, revealed on Saturday, November 15, 2025, indicates a possible strain within the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) alliance.
Mumbai Congress President Varsha Gaikwad addressed party workers at a meeting, urging them to prepare for a solo fight in all 227 seats of the BMC. "We must unfurl the Congress flag in the BMC," she declared, emphasizing the need to ensure the election of Congress corporators. Elections to the BMC, the country's richest civic body, are anticipated in January 2026. Senior leaders, including AICC General Secretary Ramesh Chennithala and Maharashtra Congress President Harshwardhan Sapkal, were present during Gaikwad's announcement. Chennithala clarified that the MVA would not contest the BMC polls together, at least in Mumbai, as per the demand of party workers, leaders, and office bearers.
The Congress's decision to go it alone comes amid speculation of a possible alliance between Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray and Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) leader Raj Thackeray for the civic polls. Sections within the Congress are reportedly uneasy about allying with Raj Thackeray, given his past stance against North Indian migrants. Gaikwad stated that the party had conveyed to Chennithala that Congress leaders and workers prefer to contest independently, alongside like-minded parties and groups.
The announcement has evoked reactions from other political parties. Shiv Sena (UBT) leaders suggested the Congress should learn from the Bihar polls. BJP leaders questioned whether the Congress possesses the courage and vote base for an independent contest, while NCP-SP representatives suggested that the Congress's move would split opposition votes, benefiting the BJP.
In preparation for the BMC elections, the Congress has been actively mobilizing its party workers. In-charges have been appointed for all 227 wards, and meetings are being conducted across the city. The party has also received over 1,150 applications from prospective candidates seeking tickets for the BMC polls. The Congress is working to rebuild its organization and reconnect with urban voters.
The Congress had aligned with its long-time rival, Shiv Sena, in 2019 to form the MVA, along with the NCP. However, the splits in Shiv Sena and NCP in 2022 and 2023 resulted in their rival factions allying with the ruling BJP. In the 2024 elections, the Congress managed to win only two of the six Lok Sabha seats in Mumbai and 10 out of 36 Assembly seats, with Shiv Sena (UBT) having an upper hand in seat-sharing.
The decision to contest the BMC polls independently is seen as a calculated attempt by the Congress to rebuild organizational morale and reclaim visibility. The party aims to strengthen its position in Mumbai and is focusing on ground-level work, with party workers instructed to remain vigilant about the voter list over the next two months.
