Sources suggest that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is likely to contest the upcoming Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections independently. Simultaneously, there are indications that Pankaja Munde may be appointed as the Mumbai unit chief of the party.

Several factors are contributing to the BJP's inclination to go solo in the BMC polls. Dissatisfaction among Mahayuti partners, feedback from local units, controversies surrounding leaders from allied parties, and the BJP's growing political assertiveness have all played a role in this decision. While the party is open to an alliance with Mahayuti partners like Shiv Sena (led by Eknath Shinde) and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) led by Ajit Pawar, some leaders believe that a tie-up could be detrimental due to recent misconduct allegations against leaders from these parties. The BJP aims to expand its footprint in the state and sees contesting independently as a way to strengthen its network.

Feedback from BJP units in major cities such as Pune, Nagpur, Pimpri-Chinchwad, Kalyan-Dombivli, Nashik, Solapur, and Amravati suggests that contesting alone would be more beneficial. The rationale is that aligning with allies facing accusations of "public misconduct" could harm the BJP's prospects. The BJP's strong performance in the previous Assembly polls, where it won 132 out of 235 seats secured by the Mahayuti alliance, also fuels the confidence to contest independently.

Pankaja Munde, daughter of the late BJP stalwart Gopinath Munde, is a prominent figure in Maharashtra politics. She has previously served as a Cabinet Minister for Animal Husbandry, Environment, and Climate Change in the Third Fadnavis ministry. She has also served as the State President of the Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM), the BJP's youth wing. Despite losing the Beed constituency in the 2024 general elections, she was elected to the Maharashtra Legislative Council. Her nomination as a candidate to the legislative council was seen as rehabilitation in state politics after she lost the Lok Sabha election from Beed. She also holds the position of a national secretary in the BJP and is in charge of Madhya Pradesh.

Appointing Pankaja Munde as the Mumbai unit chief could be a strategic move by the BJP. Given her background and experience, she could bring a fresh perspective and strengthen the party's base in Mumbai.

In the 2017 BMC polls, the Shiv Sena emerged as the single-largest party with 84 seats, closely followed by the BJP with 82 seats. The Congress, NCP, and MNS won 31, 9, and 7 seats respectively. The upcoming BMC elections are crucial, and the BJP aims to improve its performance and potentially gain control of Asia's richest civic body.

The BJP's decision to potentially contest independently aligns with its broader strategy of expanding its influence and preparing for future elections. While alliances remain a possibility, the party seems determined to explore its potential and strengthen its position in Maharashtra's political landscape.