The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led Mahayuti alliance has secured a resounding victory in the recent Maharashtra local body elections. The polls, conducted in two phases on December 2 and December 20, 2025, saw a voter turnout of 67.63% and 47.04% respectively. Counting for the 286 municipal councils and nagar panchayats began on Sunday, revealing a clear lead for the ruling coalition.
The BJP has emerged as the single largest party, leading in 118 seats. Its allies, the Shinde-led Shiv Sena and the Ajit Pawar-led NCP, are ahead in 59 and 37 seats respectively. Overall, the Mahayuti alliance has crossed the 200 mark. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis hailed the BJP and Mahayuti's victory. Celebrations erupted at the BJP office in Mumbai as the party took an early lead. Chandrashekhar Bawankule, Maharashtra Minister and BJP state president, stated that the Mahayuti was poised to win with a two-thirds majority and around 51% of the vote share.
In contrast, the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) is trailing behind. The Congress is leading in 32 seats, while the NCP-SP alliance and Shiv Sena-UBT are ahead in 9 and 8 seats respectively. The results are considered a setback for the MVA, particularly the Sharad Pawar and Uddhav Thackeray-led factions. Despite the overall dominance of the Mahayuti, the Congress managed to secure a significant win in its stronghold of Chandrapur, winning the municipal council president's post and 21 out of 23 seats in the Brahmapuri municipal council. The NCP candidate also secured a lead in Chandgad Nagar Panchayat in the Kolhapur district.
Following the announcement of results, opposition parties have alleged irregularities and foul play. Allegations include the misuse of money and power by the ruling parties, with claims of cash distribution to voters. Some opposition leaders have also accused the State Election Commission of favoring the Mahayuti alliance. Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut attributed the Mahayuti's victory to the tampering of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) and a "hailstorm" of money. He alleged that ₹150 crore was spent on municipal councils with a budget of only ₹30 crore. The Congress targeted the State Election Commission, with State Congress president Harshwardhan Sapkal "congratulating" the poll body for "helping" the ruling Mahayuti alliance.
The local body elections were marred by reports of bogus voting, voter list irregularities, and impersonation. In Ambernath, police detained 208 women allegedly brought from Bhiwandi to cast fake votes. In Panvel, a voter list controversy erupted after reports that one man was listed as the father of 268 voters. Clashes and allegations of EVM tampering and cash-for-votes claims led to police intervention in some areas.
Despite the opposition's allegations, the BJP has celebrated its record victory in the local body polls. The results are seen as an indicator of political strength in Maharashtra's semi-urban and rural areas, and come a year after the Mahayuti's win in the 2024 Assembly elections. The strong performance of the Shinde-led Shiv Sena has also established its position as a significant political force in the state. However, the allegations of electoral malpractice and the opposition's criticism of the Election Commission raise questions about the fairness and transparency of the electoral process.
