In Maharashtra, where big/main parties are engaged in talks for the Municipal Corporation elections, Akhilesh Yadav’s Samajwadi Party has released the first list. The party has announced candidates for 21 wards of Mumbai. Releasing the list of candidates, the party said that as per the instructions of Maharashtra State President Abu Asim Azmi, the first list of candidates contesting from Samajwadi Party in the upcoming Mumbai Municipal Corporation elections has been released today (26 December).

Giving more information on this subject, Chief General Secretary of Samajwadi Party, Meraj Siddiqui said that the party will contest the elections with full strength in all the wards of Mumbai and very soon the list of other candidates will also be declared.

list of candidates

1.Ward 20 – Mohammad Azharuddin Siddiqui

2.Ward 64 – Dr. Sheela Akhilesh Yadav

3.Ward 90 – Sana Abbas Qureshi

4.Ward 96 – Subhash Shaikh Shabbir

5.Ward 134 – Poet Shahbaz Khan Azmi

6.Ward 135 – Shahbaz Sabir Shaikh

7.Ward 136 – Rubaba Nazeen Siddiqui

8.Ward 137 – Ahad Yunus Qureshi

9.Ward 140 – Appati Vidyasagar Dawar

10.Ward 141 – Zayed Imranullah Qureshi

11.Ward 142 – Jyoti Laxman Gude

12.Ward 143 – Ayesha Rahmatullah Sardar

13.Ward 148 – Sakshi Sunilkumar Yadav

14.Ward 174 – Dr. Arama Thakur

15.Ward 181 – Mohammad Adil Mumtaz Shaikh

16.Ward 188 – Ghaus Mohiuddin Latif Khan

17.Ward 201 – Irfan Sajid Ahmed Siddiqui

18.Ward 212 – Amreen Shahzad Abdullah

19.Ward 213 – Dominic Malik

20.Ward 220 – Ghulam Makhdoori

21.Ward 224 – Rukhsana Zafar Tikamwala

Samajwadi Party going alone in BMC elections!

Samajwadi Party is part of the ‘India’ block. Mahavikas Aghadi under India Block in Maharashtra includes Congress, Shiv Sena (UBT) and Sharad Pawar’s party NCP (SP). Despite this, Samajwadi Party is adopting the strategy of running alone in the BMC elections. Samajwadi Party’s Maharashtra unit president Abu Azmi had recently announced that SP alone will contest Mumbai Municipal Corporation elections on about 150 seats. Earlier, Samajwadi Party had also contested the 2024 Maharashtra Assembly elections alone, in which the party had won 2 out of 9 assembly seats.

When will BMC elections?

There is a competition among political parties to gain power over the 227-member BMC. The countdown for the elections of 29 municipal corporations including BMC in Maharashtra has started. Voting will take place on 15 January 2026 while the results will be declared on 16 January.

Maharashtra politics has once again heated up regarding Mumbai’s BMC elections. Controversy has arisen over the statement of MNS chief Raj Thackeray in which he had said that the Mayor of Mumbai will be Marathi and he will be ours. After this statement, sharp reactions are coming from the ruling camp.

Sanjay Shirsat targeted Raj Thackeray

Minister Sanjay Shirsat has strongly retaliated on Raj Thackeray’s statement. He said, “I am surprised by the statement made by Raj Thackeray yesterday. It means that you cannot take care of your own children, you have come out to take care of Maharashtra. You have come out to take care of Mumbai Municipal Corporation. You have come out to rule there. How can this happen?”

He further said, “They are not even able to handle their own children. The children have grown up. Today, they do not like your policies, your words. That is why they are leaving the house and not running away. They are leaving the house and entering their house separately at another house.”

This statement of Shirsat is being considered as a direct attack on the political credibility of Raj Thackeray.

What did Raj Thackeray say in the joint press conference?

Actually, MNS chief Raj Thackeray had given this statement in a joint press conference with Shiv Sena (Uddhav faction) chief Uddhav Thackeray. During this he had said that Maharashtra is bigger than any kind of dispute. He announced that their alliance has been formed and the Mayor of Mumbai will be Marathi and will be his.

The joint press conference of Raj Thackeray and Uddhav Thackeray is being linked to the upcoming municipal elections. The signs of the two leaders coming together have created a stir in Maharashtra politics. At the same time, it is clear from the sharp statements of leaders like Sanjay Shirsat that the political conflict on this issue is going to intensify.

Before the BMC elections, an alliance was formed between Uddhav Thackeray and Raj Thackeray but the number of seats was not announced. On this, Shiv Sena (UBT) Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Raut said that number sharing is business in politics. Here there is no business between brothers, this is family. We will see what we have to do.

What did you say about Congress?

Regarding Congress, he said, “We have requested Congress many times that if BJP has to defeat us then it will have to come together.”

#WATCH Mumbai, Maharashtra: Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut said on the alliance of Shiv Sena (UBT) and MNS ahead of the municipal elections, “Number sharing is business in politics. There is no business among brothers here. It is family… We have requested Congress many times that if we have to defeat BJP… pic.twitter.com/a89ET6Zy2P

— ANI_HindiNews (@AHindinews) December 24, 2025

The speculations that had been going on for several months came to an end

It is noteworthy that putting an end to the speculations that had been going on for months, both the brothers announced the alliance. In a joint press conference with Raj Thackeray, Uddhav Thackeray said that the two parties have come together to live together. Both of them said that they have united for the interest of ‘Marathi Manush’ and Maharashtra. Uddhav Thackeray and Raj Thackeray are cousins.

Uddhav said that his grandfather Prabodhankar Thackeray was a social reformer and writer. He was a prominent figure in the Samyukta Maharashtra movement and his father Bal Thackeray and uncle Shrikant, who was the father of Raj Thackeray, also played important roles in this movement. All of them contributed significantly in ensuring that Mumbai remained a part of the state. However, Raj Thackeray did not share the detailed information about seat sharing between the two parties in the BMC elections.

Mumbai mayor will be Marathi and will be ours – Raj Thackeray

Raj Thackeray said, “Mumbai’s mayor will be Marathi and he will be ours.” Uddhav said both parties have finalized the seat sharing for Nashik Municipal Corporation, where elections are to be held on January 15, as well as in Mumbai and 27 other municipal corporations in the state. Uddhav Thackeray said, “Those who cannot tolerate what is happening in the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) can join us.”

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).

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.

The political temperature in Maharashtra has become high regarding the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation elections (BMC Election) and all the political parties have started preparations to make their place. There has also been news of the Thackeray brothers coming together before the BMC elections. It is believed that Raj Thackeray and Uddhav Thackeray are going to contest the elections together with each other this time. However, Mahavikas Aghadi (MVA) ally Congress had clearly opposed it.

In such a situation, the question now arises whether Raj Thackeray will be allowed to contest elections by joining Mahavikas Aghadi? However, now it has been clearly stated by the Congress that the Congress will contest the Municipal Corporation elections on its own. This means that the opposition coalition party MVA will break.

Vijay Wadettiwar’s claim – Congress will contest elections alone

This has been announced by senior Congress leader Vijay Wadettiwar. Vijay Wadettiwar said that the world’s largest municipal corporation is Mumbai. Our Mumbai Municipal Corporation leaders have decided that we will fight independently. Therefore, the question does not arise as to how many seats have to be left for whom. Wadettiwar has been clearly told that this decision has been taken at the local level after discussion with the Congress high command.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has taken a big decision before the Mumbai Municipal Election (BMC Election 2025). The party has made Amit Satam the Mumbai BJP president.

The name of Praveen Darekar was also discussed for this post, but finally Amit Satam was given this responsibility. State President Ravindra Chavan and other leaders including Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis approved the name of Satam.

Whose place did Amit Satam take?

Amit Satam comes from Mumbai suburb and is known as an aggressive face of BJP. Till now Ashish Shelar had the responsibility of Mumbai BJP President. Shelar was also the Minister of Information Technology and Cultural Affairs Department in the state government along with the post of Mumbai President.

Why is this appointment important?

Mumbai Municipal Corporation elections can be held in the next three to four months. The BJP dreams that this time the Mumbai Municipal Corporation should be captured and the party’s mayor sat in the Mumbai municipality. Today, BJP has a large number of MLAs in Mumbai. BJP’s base has increased considerably in Mumbai due to the 2014 assembly elections. BJP has more strength in the suburb, especially in the suburb.

But this time the challenge of Thackeray brothers may be in front of BJP. Uddhav Thackeray and Raj Thackeray can contest elections together. For many years, there was a umbrella of Shiv Sena over the Mumbai Mahapalika. But in 2022, Shiv Sena erupted and two groups became.

After this, it was not easy for Uddhav Thackeray to win the Mumbai Mahapalika. Both Thackeray brothers also showed declining mass base assembly election results. Therefore, there is a possibility that the two brothers can contest elections together so that there is no division in Marathi votes.

Who is Amit Satam?

Amit Satam has been working as a member (MLA) of the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly, representing Andheri West Assembly constituency in the third consecutive term since October 2014.

Born on 15 August 1976 in Mumbai, Maharashtra, Satam completed his Bachelor of Arts in 1998 from Mithibai College of Arts, University of Mumbai.

He then obtained a degree of Master of Management Studies (Personnel Management) from Mahatma Gandhi Mission Institute of Management Studies and Research, University of Mumbai and graduated in the year 2000.

Some major changes are coming out before the upcoming elections in Maharashtra. On Tuesday (August 5), former MLA Rahul Motte formally joined the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) led by Ajit Pawar.

Thick earlier, Sharad Pawar’s faction was associated with NCP (SP) and he has represented Bhum-Paranda assembly constituency. On this occasion, Deputy CM Ajit Pawar welcomed him by joining the party and announced a new direction of party expansion.

We have to think above caste, religion or creed- Ajit Pawar

On this occasion, Ajit Pawar emphasized the need for inclusive politics. He said, “We have to think above caste, religion or creed, as Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj did at the time of establishing his Swarajya.”

He said that the foundation of the party was laid under the guidance of senior leaders and now new leadership capacity is needed at the ground level to strengthen it. To give new energy to this 26 -year journey, the arrival of new workers in the party was said to be welcome step. Please tell that NCP was founded by his uncle Sharad Pawar on 10 June 1999- from which Ajit Pawar separated in 2023.

Ajit Pawar said wrong statement and social media

Ajit Pawar gave strict advice to party workers to follow discipline. He said, “Today social media has become a very powerful medium. A single wrong statement can harm the image of the entire organization. So it is necessary to speak thoughtfully on public forums.” He asked to focus on the preparation of the upcoming local body elections and clarified that the work of development can be done not by sitting in the opposition, but in power.

Leaders of many districts joined

Apart from Rahul Motesi, many prominent leaders and officials from Dharashiv, Ahilyanagar and Akola districts also joined Ajit Pawar’s NCP on the occasion. With this, the party is expected to get new strength in organizing the ground level. Ajit Pawar said that this is not only a membership, but a step towards strengthening the backbone of the organization.

Municipal elections in Mumbai are now on their heads. For this, the ruling Mahayuti and opposition party Uddhav Thackeray’s Shiv Sena is trying its full force. Meanwhile, there is big news from the political corridors of Maharashtra. If sources are to be believed, Uddhav and Raj Thackeray have now come together and the opposition seems to be getting stronger. In such a situation, Mahayuti has prepared a big plan to prevent their strength.

Under the ‘No Risk’ policy, the three parties of Mahayuti will contest elections together in the Municipal Corporations so that the Thackeray brothers do not get the benefit of the distribution of Mahayuti votes. Therefore, Eknath Shinde faction, Ajit Pawar faction and BJP will join hands in Mumbai.

What is Mahayuti’s ‘No Risk’ policy?
If the three parties involved in the coalition contest separate elections in major municipal corporations including Mumbai, then the Thackeray brothers can benefit from it. With this, more corporators of MNS and Thackeray factions can come. Due to this, the coalition has adopted a ‘no risk’ policy.

Under this policy, the responsibility of election will be given to those leaders of the coalition who are aware of Mumbai. The alliance will resolve the disputes of every ward in the next one month and start preparing for the election.

Mahayuti MLAs will take command of Mumbai
Mahayuti has been planning to ‘open’ the management of Thackeray, who has been in power of Mumbai Municipal Corporation for the last several years. Also, the responsibility of every ward of Mumbai will be entrusted to Mahayuti MLAs. These MLAs and their workers will try to convey information about the work of Mahayuti in the festive season to the general public.

Free trains and buses in Ganesh Utsav
To reach Konkani voters, Mahayuti leaders will run free trains and ST buses during Ganeshotsav. It is also being told that efforts have been started at the local level to connect Govinda squad and public Ganeshotsav Mandal with Mahayuti.

BJP’s plan to intimidate Thackeray brothers
A few days ago, BJP MLAs met in the presence of Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. In this meeting, CM Fadnavis had directed BJP MLAs to give a list of five important works in their respective constituencies. The MLAs were also assured that the government would complete these works quickly, which will benefit in the local body elections.

In such a situation, it is believed that in this meeting, BJP MLAs expressed the idea that there is no need to worry more than coming with Raj and Uddhav Thackeray. If Uddhav and Raj Thackeray come together in the Mumbai Municipal Corporation elections, then the vote percentage will definitely make a difference, but the BJP can also get the benefit of polarization of Marathi-Amarathi votes.

Before the civic elections in Maharashtra, the big question is what will happen to the alliance of opposition parties? Amid speculation, Shiv Sena (UBT) chief and former Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray said that before the local body elections, the meeting of India Alliance is more important than Mahavikas Aghadi (MVA).

He insisted, “India coalition has not met after the Lok Sabha elections. I want to meet as soon as possible. There are elections in Bihar, elections will be held in other states too, we also have body elections here.

Please tell that other opposition parties including Congress, SP, RJD, NCP (SP), Shiv Sena (UBT) and DMK formed India alliance before the Lok Sabha elections.

In Maharashtra, Congress, Sharad Pawar’s NCP (SP) and Shiv Sena (UBT) alliance are named Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA). MVA fought the Lok Sabha and Assembly elections together.

Why the question on the alliance arising?

Now Uddhav Thackeray’s party is going to alliance with Raj Thackeray with MNS. In such a situation, questions are arising whether MVA will be? Will the Congress go to the field with Thackeray Brothers?

These questions started to rise faster when Thackeray Brothers appeared on one platform after 20 years on July 5. During this, Uddhav Thackeray said in front of Raj Thackeray that he will contest the upcoming elections together. Supriya Sule was present on this platform from NCP (SP). At the same time, the Congress remained away from this march.

The Congress had recently indicated that it could enter the civic elections alone. Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut also said that India alliance was for the Lok Sabha elections and MVA was for the assembly. This was not an alliance for the local election.

Sharad Pawar’s party NCP (SP) has not yet cleared its stand regarding the alliance in the civic elections.