In view of the Mumbai Municipal Corporation Elections (BMC Election 2026), all the stalwarts associated with Maharashtra politics are active and are trying hard to make their party win. Meanwhile, Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) Chief Ajit Pawar has given a big statement. While campaigning for his candidates in Pune Municipal Corporation, Ajit Pawar addressed the public and told why he did not support BJP for the Pune Municipal Corporation elections despite being part of the Mahayuti in the state government.

Ajit Pawar said in his public address, “I have contested many elections in my 35 years of political career, but this time the election is something different and unique. We are part of the NDA government at the Center and development is happening rapidly at the national level under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. In the state, we Devendra Fadnavis, Eknath Shinde and I are running the government together. However, in Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad, the public is seeing a completely different picture. A sensible voter will naturally think: If we are together at the Center and in the state, then what is wrong here?”

Why did Ajit Pawar separate from Mahayuti in Pune?

Answering this question himself, Ajit Pawar said, “I want to make it very clear to everyone that a similar situation existed a few years ago. At that time, the Maha Vikas Aghadi government was in power in the state and there was the UPA government at the Centre. Manmohan Singh was the Prime Minister and leaders like Sushil Kumar Shinde, Ashok Chavan, Prithviraj Chavan and Vilasrao Deshmukh were leading the state at different times. Even then, local body elections were fought separately on local issues, often Against each other.”

Ajit Pawar further said, “The same situation is visible even today. The central and state governments are providing adequate funds for development works in every corner of Maharashtra. No development plan has been kept pending by the central or state government, but the question is, what is the condition of the municipal corporations which have been running under the same leadership for the last many years? There is no fault of the central or state government in this. The real question is the performance of the local leadership.”

Union Minister and BJP leader Muralidhar Mohol has made serious allegations against the Ajit Pawar-led Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), which is part of the Grand Alliance. He said that by giving election tickets to people with criminal background, NCP has raised questions on its own claims regarding law and order.

Mohol said that Deputy Chief Minister and Minister in-charge of Pune, Ajit Pawar continuously talks about ending crime and the terror of ‘Koyta Gang’, but his party’s decisions seem to be the opposite. He said that the list of candidates itself is telling the truth.

RPI gave ticket to notorious gang

In fact, Ajit Pawar’s NCP has given tickets to some candidates for the Pune and Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation elections through its ally RPI (Sachin Kharat faction). These include Sonali Andekar, daughter-in-law of notorious gang leader Suryakant alias Bandu Andekar and her relative Lakshmi Andekar. Both of them are accused in the murder case of Bandu Andekar’s grandson Ayush Komkar and are currently in jail. These elections are to be held on 15 January.

Responsibility of public representatives to maintain law and order- Mohol

Mohol said that it is the responsibility of public representatives to maintain law and order and giving tickets to such people gives a wrong message. However, Mohol defended BJP’s decision to give ticket to Pratibha Chorge, wife of history-sheeter Rohidas Chorge. He said that Pratibha Chorge has no connection with any criminal activity and is associated with social work. Mohol also said that both the cases cannot be compared and if any problem arises then the party will consider it.

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Ajit Pawar has made a big announcement regarding Maharashtra Municipal Corporation elections. He has said that his party will contest the Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation elections together with Sharad Pawar’s party.

Ajit Pawar said, “There is no problem. Normally, while contesting the candidature in Pimpri Chinchwad, the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP)—that is, ‘Ghadi’ and ‘Tutari’ are facing the election together.”

This is why uncle and nephew are coming together

Deputy CM Ajit Pawar said, “Many people had the same thing in their minds. After all friends, many of us are farmers. Farmer is your and my identity (caste). Therefore, some things have to be done for the all-round development of Maharashtra.”

‘You will understand everything in two days’

He said that this time all the leaders were sitting and discussed the distribution of seats. The distribution of seats has been done properly with some changes. You will get complete information in two days. If I say something now and it is not like that, then people will say – look, what he said and what happened. So, please be patient for two days. You will understand everything in two days.

Ajit Pawar said, but please do not fall into any false promise. Do not succumb to anyone’s bullying or pressure. Would you like me to summarize the main points of this speech or provide more information about the current political situation in Maharashtra.

Ajit Pawar’s party NCP has released the first list of candidates for the Mumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections. The party has announced the names of 37 candidates in this. Let us tell you that in this election, on one hand, Shiv Sena and BJP are contesting together, while on the other hand, Ajit Pawar’s party is contesting separately.

In the list of 37 candidates released by NCP for BMC elections, Manish Dubey has been given ticket from Ward No. 3. Vilas Dagdu Ghule has been made the candidate from Ward 40. Cyril Peter D’Souza has been given ticket from Ward 48. Ajay Dutta Vichare has been made the candidate from Ward 57.

To whom did NCP give ticket from which ward?

Apart from this, NCP of Ajit Pawar faction has fielded Ahmed Khan from Ward 62. Hadiya Faisal Qureshi has been made the candidate from Ward 64. Baban Ramchandra Madane has got the ticket from Ward 76. Mamta Dharmendra Thakur has been given a chance from Ward 77. Subhash Janardan Patade has been made the candidate from Ward 86. Apart from this, tickets have been given to Yusuf Abubakar Memon from Ward 92, Dr. Sachin Tambe from Ward 93, Amit Ankush Patil from Ward 95, Ayesha Shams Khan from Ward 96, Dhananjay (Dada) Pisal from Ward 111.

Along with this, Sajju Malik from Ward 109, Pratiksha Raju Ghuge from Ward 126, Shobha Ratnakar Jadhav from Ward 113, Nagaratna Sandeep Bankar from Ward 139, Harishchandra Babaling Jangam from Ward 125, Chandni Ajay Srivastava from Ward 142, Akshay Mohan Pawar from Ward 135, Dilip Harishchandra from Ward 144. Patil, Jyoti Devidas Sadawaten from Ward 140, Ankita Sandeep Dravey from Ward 147, Ku. Rachna Ravindra Gavas, NCP has made Laxman Shrirang Gaikwad its candidate from Ward 152.

When will the elections be held for BMC?

NCP’s Maharashtra unit president Sunil Tatkare had said on Saturday (December 27) that meetings are going on with everyone for the last three days and all the information regarding this has been informed to Ajit Pawar. The party can contest elections on approximately 100 seats. Elections are to be held on a total of 227 seats in BMC. Elections for 29 municipal corporations of Maharashtra including Mumbai’s BMC will be held on January 15. The results will be declared on January 16.

There is talk of reunification of the two factions of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) before the Municipal Corporation elections in Maharashtra. After the meeting between uncle-nephew i.e. Sharad Pawar and Ajit Pawar, speculations are being made that NCP may be a candidate in many municipal elections including Pune Municipal Corporation. Meanwhile, Ajit Pawar group has put a big condition.

Ajit Pawar’s MLA Anil Patil says that even if both the parties of NCP come together, the elections to be held in Pune, Jalgaon and Dhule should be fought only on Ghadi (symbol of Ajit group).

Rohit Pawar and Ajit Pawar meeting

In fact, there was a clash between the two factions of NCP in Pimpri-Chinchwad. There is intense political activity after the conversation between Ajit Pawar and nephew Rohit Pawar. Let us tell you, Rohit Pawar is the MLA of Sharad group from Karjat Jamkhed. Sharad Pawar group’s MP Amol Kolhe was also present in this meeting. It is being told that election strategy and possibilities were discussed in this meeting.

If sources are to be believed, if Ajit Pawar and Sharad Pawar contest elections together in Pimpri-Chinchwad, then it will be necessary to take a final decision on seat sharing. There was a discussion between the three leaders regarding this issue.

How will you benefit from coming with uncle and nephew?

It is being told that Ajit Pawar spoke to NCP leaders on phone. It was also discussed what kind of political benefit could be gained by contesting elections together. The final decision regarding the seats of Pimpri-Chinchwad can be taken in a day or two.

Old supporters of NCP want to see uncle and nephew together

Sharad Pawar’s supporters since the time of undivided NCP want to see NCP with full strength once again. Supporters believe that family feuds should end at some point and the family should remain together even in politics.

Nationalist Congress Party (Sharad Pawar) working president Supriya Sule on Wednesday (December 24) has put conditions before Ajit Pawar’s party for the Pune Municipal Corporation elections. He said that until all the doubts and apprehensions of the party workers are removed, his party will not form an alliance with Ajit Pawar’s party in the Pune Municipal Corporation elections. Speaking to journalists in Pune, Sule said that he is in touch with NCP. If both the groups decide to join hands, the possible consequences will also be considered.

Pune Municipal Corporation elections will be held on this day

When asked about the party’s city unit president Prashant Jagtap’s dissatisfaction over a possible alliance with Ajit Pawar’s NCP in the Pune Municipal Corporation elections to be held on January 15, Sule said that he (Sule) spoke to Jagtap in detail and understood his apprehensions.

Sule said that he assured Jagtap that no ideology or party policy will be compromised if there is an alliance with NCP. Sule said, “Jagtap’s concerns were justified. His questions are absolutely legitimate.

Supriya Sule mentioned about being out of Congress

Referring to past political incidents, Sule reminded that NCP (SP) chief Sharad Pawar was thrown out of Congress after raising the issue of Sonia Gandhi’s foreign origin, after which NCP was formed.

He said, “Later, Sonia Gandhi met Pawar and offered him to join the UPA government.” Sule said, “There are ups and downs in politics. No ideology or policy of the party will be compromised by forming an alliance with NCP. I have given all these assurances. There is no ambiguity in the matter.

Supriya Sule gave a big statement on Tuesday (23 December) on the alliance between Sharad Pawar faction and Ajit Pawar faction in the Pune Municipal Corporation elections. He said that no formal talks have started yet. He said that Punekar i.e. the people of Pune and the development of Pune are important for Pune. The election of Pune is not of any individual but of the people here. He said that neither we have sent the official proposal nor he has sent the proposal. Discussion is going on in every ward. Every ward has a different calculation. Our complete details of Mahavikas Aghadi have been discussed.

Supriya Sule made this appeal to Congress

Supriya Sule said, “We will decide after discussion whether to take someone into the alliance or not. This is not a matter of children. It is a question of everyone’s career. It cannot be taken lightly. Our efforts will be to ensure that Mahavikas Aghadi stays together. We request the Congress to fight the elections together.”

Whatever we do will be in the interest of Pune – Supriya Sule

The MP from Baramati said, “Whatever we do will be in the interest of Pune. They are in power in Pune for seven years. Traffic has increased in Pune. What 24*7 water has they given? Tankers come to my building too. There is a problem of pollution. They are in power in Delhi for 11 years. Mumbai and Pune are in the same situation. But there is no solution to air pollution, no solution to traffic, what have they done about schools and hospitals?” Have you rectified it?”

What did you say on Uddhav Thackeray and Raj Thackeray?

Supriya Sule said that it keeps going back and forth. On the alliance of Uddhav Thackeray and Raj Thackeray, he said that we want Mahavikas Aghadi to unite and contest the Municipal Corporation elections of Maharashtra. He said that we are in talks with Congress and Shiv Sena (UBT).

Preparations of all political parties for BMC elections 2026 are going on in full swing. Meanwhile, seat sharing is also being discussed in Mahayuti. Last night (Monday, December 22) an almost two-hour long meeting of Mahayuti took place at Varsha Bungalow. According to sources, before this, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis held a separate meeting with his senior leaders and reviewed the upcoming municipal elections, in which an in-depth discussion was held especially regarding the Mumbai Municipal Corporation.

Quoting sources, it has been revealed that consensus has already been reached on 150 seats of Mumbai Municipal Corporation, while the remaining 77 seats were discussed on the night of Monday, December 22. During this time, consensus has been reached on about 30 to 35 seats, while it has been agreed to hold another meeting soon and take a final decision regarding the remaining seats.

Seat sharing will be finalized in a day or two

It was also decided in the meeting that the final seal on seat distribution would be given by the afternoon of Tuesday or Wednesday (23 or 24 December).

What happened in MVA so far?

The equations of the opposition grand alliance party of Maharashtra now seem to be changing. Amidst the departure of Congress and the possibility of entry of Raj Thackeray, seat sharing is also being discussed in a new way. Uddhav Thackeray’s Shiv Sena UBT currently has 145 seats out of 227 seats in Mumbai. At the same time, Raj Thackeray’s MNS can still get 65 to 70 seats. Apart from this, Sharad Pawar’s NCP SP may get 10 to 12 seats.

Apart from this, Raj Thackeray’s MNS has also decided to put a pause on the announcement of alliance until seat sharing is fully discussed. Once both the parties agree on seats, only then should the Thackeray brothers announce the alliance. In such a situation, it is believed that the alliance between Raj and Uddhav Thackeray has been postponed.

Elections have been announced for BMC, the country’s largest municipal corporation. Voting will be done on January 15 and counting of votes will take place on January 16. The big question is who will take over this municipal corporation dominated by Thackeray’s Shiv Sena this time? This time, along with the political scenario, the map has also changed in BMC.

There are 236 seats here, in 2017 there were 227 seats. BMC elections were to be held in the year 2022, but they were delayed due to issues related to ward delimitation and reservation. In September 2025, the Supreme Court had said that local body elections should be completed by January 31, 2026.

In the 2017 elections, Uddhav Thackeray’s Shiv Sena emerged as the largest party and captured the post of Mayor in alliance with BJP. Shiv Sena had got maximum 84 seats. BJP had got 82 seats. Shiv Sena was united then under the leadership of Uddhav Thackeray. Whereas Congress won 31 seats, NCP 9, MNS 7 and AIMIM won two seats.

This time, till the announcement of elections, there has been no announcement on the alliance formula in both the party and opposition camps. An alliance is expected with a friendly fight in the elections. BJP, Shiv Sena Shinde faction and Ajit Pawar’s NCP are definitely talking about fighting together, but there is every possibility of a friendly fight.

Angry Eknath Shinde!

In fact, during the Panchayat elections, Deputy Chief Minister and Shiv Sena chief Eknath Shinde appeared quite angry with the BJP’s stance. The party said that BJP has defeated their leaders.

Such was his displeasure that he did not even attend the cabinet meeting. However, after the elections, BJP did damage control. There was a long meeting between Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Shinde and after this BJP announced that we will fight the local elections together. At the same time, BJP is angry with Ajit Pawar’s NCP. NCP has given command of BMC elections to Nawab Malik, BJP is opposing it. In such a situation, the time to come will tell what will be the equation of Mahayuti in the elections.

NCP will take decision today

NCP has called a meeting on Tuesday (16 December) at 4 pm. Sources said that whether to contest the elections as a grand alliance or to consider any other option, this will be discussed in today’s meeting.

Small workers have a lot of expectations from local elections, in such a situation all the parties want to bring maximum seats to their side. The grand alliance of all three parties is currently in the Maharashtra government. At the same time, small parties like RPI are also hoping to get seats in Mahayuti.

BJP is going to start the first round of talks with constituent parties for BMC elections from today. BJP will hold talks with Shiv Sena and RPI Athawale today.

condition of opposition alliance

There is confusion about the stand of Congress due to Shiv Sena (Uddhav faction) and Raj Thackeray joining MNS in the opposition. Uddhav Thackeray and Raj Thackeray have come together after 20 years. Both the brothers are faced with the challenge of survival. Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut has reached MNS President Raj Thackeray’s house today to discuss seat sharing.

The unity of the Thackeray brothers put the Congress in a dilemma. Different voices are being raised within the party. Some believe that one should fight separately from Thackeray. At the same time, some party leaders also believe that fighting with Shiv Sena (UBT) and MNS will be beneficial.

Regarding the conversation, Sanjay Raut said, “There may be a formal announcement from the Thackeray brothers this week.” As of now I don’t think Congress is with us. I had spoken to the Congress High Command, who had left the decision to the local unit. Let us tell you that Congress has called a meeting today regarding BMC elections.

The stand of Sharad Pawar’s NCP (SP) is awaited. The closeness between uncle and nephew has increased in recent times amidst confusion regarding Ajit Pawar in Mahayuti and Sharad Pawar in MVA. Recently, Prafulla Patel of Ajit Pawar group attended Sharad Pawar’s birthday party. The photo of the meeting sparked a new discussion in political circles.

In the last assembly and Lok Sabha elections, Shiv Sena (UBT), Congress and NCP (SP) had contested together. This Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) alliance defeated Mahayuti in the Lok Sabha elections, however, it suffered a crushing defeat in the Assembly elections.

The last election was held on 21 February 2017 and the result was announced on 23 February. Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) is considered to be the largest municipal corporation in Asia. In the last budget, an expenditure of about Rs 75,000 crore was estimated for the current financial year. In such a situation, the eyes of all parties are fixed on BMC.

In Maharashtra, elections for all 29 municipal corporations and 25 municipal corporations including Mumbai (BMC) have been announced. The State Election Commission has informed that voting will be held on January 15 and results will be announced on January 16. Along with this, a big stir is also being seen in the ruling Mahayuti. Mahayuti’s fight among itself has now clearly come to the fore. Now there will be a ‘friendly fight’ between Devendra Fadnavis and Ajit Pawar to install their mayor in Pune.

A tussle and rhetoric has started between the allies BJP and NCP regarding the appointment of their own mayor in the Pune Municipal Corporation. CM Devendra Fadnavis has given a big statement regarding the capture of the most important Pune and Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporations after Mumbai. He has said that there will be a friendly fight between BJP and NCP (Ajit Pawar) in the elections at both these places.

CM Fadnavis claims- ‘There is no bitterness between NCP-BJP’

It is being told that there will be an alliance between BJP and Shiv Sena Eknath Shinde faction in more and more municipal corporations. There will also be an alliance of BJP-NCP and Shiv Sena at some places. Devendra Fadnavis said, “I have talked to Ajit Dada regarding Pune Corporation. We both are big parties. BJP has made good development in Pune in the last 5 years. So in Pune, BJP can compete with NCP (Ajit Pawar). If this happens, it will be a friendly fight. There will be no bitterness among the allies.

All political parties in action regarding BMC elections

Apart from Pune, the political picture before the mayor elections in Mumbai is also interesting. These elections are pending since 2022. There has been a lot of delay in the elections due to issues of ward delimitation and reservation. In such a situation, after the announcement of elections, the political activities of the parties have intensified. Everyone has become more active in making their own strategies.