As the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections draw near on January 15, 2026, seat-sharing negotiations between the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena have intensified, reaching a critical stage. The BJP has reportedly increased its seat offer to the Shinde faction to 90, but the Shinde-led Shiv Sena is holding firm to its demand for 125 seats.

These elections are being viewed as a crucial test for all political entities in Maharashtra, with the outcome potentially having repercussions far beyond Mumbai. For decades, the BMC was dominated by the undivided Shiv Sena under Balasaheb Thackeray. With the party now split between Uddhav Thackeray and Eknath Shinde, the battle for Mumbai is a direct contest between the two factions, which will determine who truly holds claim to Bal Thackeray's legacy.

Sources indicate that the Shinde-led Shiv Sena is determined to secure a "respectable" seat-sharing arrangement and may consider contesting independently if their demands are not met. Shiv Sena leaders are reportedly preparing a counter-proposal to present to the BJP. A key point of contention is the Shinde faction's claim to the 84 seats won by the undivided Shiv Sena in the 2017 BMC elections, a demand that the BJP has rejected. In the 2017 BMC polls, the Shiv Sena won 84 seats, while the BJP secured 82 in the 227-member house. Despite contesting separately, they later formed an alliance to govern the BMC.

The BJP, buoyed by its recent performance in municipal council and nagar panchayat elections, is aiming to win more than 150 seats in the BMC, with a target of securing at least 100 seats independently. The party is reportedly unwilling to play a junior role in the alliance. The BJP has claimed all 82 seats it won in 2017 and has also demanded seats where it finished second in the last civic polls.

Political analysts believe that seat-sharing talks will be a challenge, as both parties are unwilling to concede seats. Some analysts suggest the Mahayuti alliance currently holds an edge. The BJP maintains that the political landscape has changed significantly since 2017, and therefore, past results should not be the sole determinant of seat allocation.

Meanwhile, efforts are underway for a potential alliance between Uddhav Thackeray and his cousin Raj Thackeray, which has caused concern for the BJP. Congress has announced it will fight alone. The Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) is reportedly in talks with Shiv Sena (UBT) and MNS for a tie-up for the upcoming BMC polls.

These elections are particularly crucial for Chief Minister Eknath Shinde to demonstrate his faction's strength in Mumbai and solidify his claim to Balasaheb Thackeray's legacy. For Uddhav Thackeray, an alliance with Raj Thackeray could prove vital. The Congress party views the civic polls as an opportunity to revive its urban base.