The Mahayuti alliance, comprising the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Shiv Sena led by Eknath Shinde, has made headway in seat-sharing negotiations for the upcoming Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections, slated for January 15, 2026. While significant progress has been made, some roadblocks remain as the parties work to finalize their strategy for conquering Mumbai's civic body.
Consensus on a Majority of Seats
According to BJP Mumbai chief Ameet Satam, the Mahayuti has reached a consensus on 150 out of the total 227 seats in the BMC. This marks a significant step forward in the alliance's preparations for the crucial civic polls. Discussions are ongoing for the remaining 77 seats, and are expected to be resolved in the coming days. The final decision on these remaining seats will be made with the approval of Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde.
Uday Samant, a Shiv Sena leader, echoed Satam's remarks, emphasizing the importance of unity within the Mahayuti. He asserted that the alliance would not break over seat-sharing or any other issue.
The Roadblocks
Despite the progress, challenges remain in finalizing the seat-sharing arrangement. Sources indicate that the Shiv Sena has demanded 125 of the 227 seats, a proposal that the BJP has termed simply a number. The BJP, buoyed by its performance in the 2017 BMC polls where it won 82 seats contesting independently, is keen to contest a significant number of seats. The party aims to increase its tally and play a dominant role in the civic body.
Another point of contention was the potential inclusion of the Ajit Pawar-led Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) in the alliance. However, the BJP has ruled out any association with the NCP, citing "serious allegations" against Nawab Malik, who was appointed as coordinator for the BMC elections by the NCP.
Strategic Objectives and the Opposition
The Mahayuti is aiming to secure a majority in the BMC and install a mayor from their alliance. Their stated objective is to provide a corruption-free civic administration in Mumbai. The alliance is determined to end the 25-year rule of the Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) in the BMC.
The Mahayuti is also focusing on winning over 150 seats in the BMC election. They are emphasizing unity and coordination among workers to pose a strong challenge to the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) and its INDIA bloc allies.
Meanwhile, the Shiv Sena (UBT) and the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) are also in advanced discussions to finalize a seat-sharing arrangement. The Shiv Sena (UBT) is likely to contest around 120 to 125 seats, while the MNS may field candidates in about 80 to 90 seats. There are also discussions to include the Sharad Pawar faction of the NCP and Left parties in their alliance.
Looking Ahead
With the BMC elections drawing closer, the Mahayuti is working to resolve the remaining issues in their seat-sharing arrangement. The alliance is aware of the challenges posed by the opposition and is determined to present a united front. The coming days will be crucial as the Mahayuti finalizes its strategy and prepares for the battle to control Mumbai's civic body.
