In a significant development ahead of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections slated for January 15, 2026, Rakhee Jadhav, the Mumbai unit president of the Nationalist Congress Party (Sharadchandra Pawar), has joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). This move is perceived as a major setback for the Sharad Pawar-led NCP faction, especially with the nomination deadline fast approaching on December 30.
Rakhee Jadhav, a prominent figure in Mumbai politics, previously served as a three-time corporator from Ghatkopar and led the NCP in the BMC. She won the 2017 BMC election from Ward 170. Following the resignation of Nawab Malik, who was implicated in a money laundering case, Jadhav was appointed as the Mumbai city unit president. Even after the split within the NCP, Jadhav remained with the Sharad Pawar faction.
The BJP views Jadhav's inclusion as a strengthening of their organization and an improvement in their communication with the public, citing her extensive social and political experience. Mumbai BJP chief Ameet Satam, along with other prominent leaders such as Ashish Shelar and Parag Shah, were present during the induction. Parag Shah announced Jadhav's arrival to the BJP via social media. Jadhav is expected to receive a BJP nomination from the N ward, where she was previously elected.
Sources suggest that Jadhav's decision to switch parties stemmed from disagreements over seat-sharing arrangements within the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) alliance. Reportedly, she was unhappy with the NCP (SP) having to concede several wards in Mumbai to the Shiv Sena (UBT). Jadhav had also contested the 2024 Assembly elections from Ghatkopar East but lost to BJP's Parag Shah.
The BMC elections are shaping up to be a multi-cornered contest. The BJP and Shiv Sena, in alliance, have reached a consensus on 207 out of the 227 seats. The BJP is set to contest 128 seats, while the Shiv Sena will field candidates in 79 seats. The remaining seats will be decided based on candidates and local equations. On the other hand, the Shiv Sena (UBT) has aligned with the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS). The Congress is in pact with the VBA, while the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) is also entering the fray, contesting all 227 wards.
The BMC, which governs Greater Mumbai, has 227 electoral wards. Elections are scheduled for January 15, 2026, with the vote count to follow on January 16. The last date for filing nominations is December 30.
The Nationalist Congress Party, founded by Sharad Pawar in 1999 after splitting from the Indian National Congress, recently underwent a split itself. A faction led by Ajit Pawar joined the Shiv Sena-BJP government in Maharashtra. The Election Commission of India recognized the Ajit Pawar faction as the original NCP, leading to the Sharad Pawar faction being named "Nationalist Congress Party (Sharadchandra Pawar)".
The desertion of Rakhee Jadhav is the latest in a series of departures from the NCP (SP), with former Pune city chief Prashant Jagtap also recently joining the Congress. The NCP is contesting the BMC polls alone. The Ajit Pawar-led NCP has already declared its list of 37 candidates.
