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.

Shiv Sena (UBT) MLA Aditya Thackeray has made a big claim about Mahayuti MLAs. He said on Monday (08 December) that 22 MLAs of an ally of Mahayuti have come close to Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and are ready to change sides. It is being told that he has said this in the context of Shiv Sena led by Deputy CM Eknath Shinde.

Without naming Shinde-led Shiv Sena, Aditya Thackeray claimed, “There is one party and two factions.” 22 MLAs of one group have come close to the CM. They have good funds and now they have started dancing to the tune of the CM.

’22 MLAs of Mahayuti are ready to change sides’

Speaking to the media in the Vidhan Bhawan complex, Shiv Sena (UBT) MLA from Worli said, “22 MLAs are ready to switch sides.” One of these MLAs calls himself vice-captain. It is being said that he has said this about Industries Minister Uday Samant. Earlier, Shiv Sena (UBT) had claimed that Samant could be the third Chief Minister of the state along with Shinde and Ajit Pawar.

Shiv Sena was divided in 2022

Let us tell you that after the rebellion led by Shinde in June 2022, Shiv Sena was divided, after which the Mahavikas Aghadi government led by the then Uddhav Thackeray fell. Later, in January 2024, Assembly Speaker Rahul Narvekar said that the Eknath Shinde-led faction was the real Shiv Sena, a component of the ruling grand alliance in the state along with the BJP and Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar’s NCP.

What did Aditya say about the appointment of the leader of the opposition?

On the issue of inaction in appointing the leader of the opposition in both the houses of the state legislature, Aditya Thackeray asked why the government is afraid of the leader of the opposition. Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Bhaskar Jadhav has been nominated by his party, which is the largest opposition party in the Lower House with 20 MLAs, for the post of Leader of Opposition in the Assembly, but no decision has been taken by the Speaker on the Cabinet-level appointment.

Jadhav had written a letter to the state legislature, seeking to know whether there was any rule that mandated that an opposition party should have 10 percent of the total strength in the assembly (29 seats out of 288) to claim the post of Leader of the Opposition. After the opposition’s crushing defeat in the state assembly elections last year, no party could win 10 percent of the total 288 seats.

It is noteworthy that Ambadas Danve, former MLC of Shiv Sena (UBT), who was the leader of opposition in the Legislative Council. His tenure ended in August. Congress has nominated its MLC Satej Patil to be appointed as the leader of opposition in the Upper House. State Legislative Council Chairman Ram Shinde on Sunday said his office has received a proposal to appoint the leader of the opposition and the decision will be taken after talks with stakeholders.

Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has expressed his displeasure over the postponement of 22 municipal council elections under the municipal elections in Maharashtra. Expressing displeasure over the sudden cancellation of elections, the CM said, ‘Voting is tomorrow and the elections were canceled a day before. The workers were disappointed by this. The Election Commission has misinterpreted the law. This has never happened before that elections should be postponed if someone goes to court.

CM said that he does not know which law the Election Commission is making and from whom it is taking advice. I spoke to many lawyers, the elections cannot be proceeded with if a person goes to court.

Sanjay Raut gave a big update on his health, called Devendra Fadnavis his ‘personal friend’

CM gave the example of Nilange

Fadnavis said, ‘Take the example of Nilange. I spoke to Sambhaji Patil Nilangekar. The whole process was complete. Someone’s form got cancelled, he went to the court, the court also kept the form cancelled. The remaining candidates received full publicity. But postponing the elections because someone went to court is wrong. Yes, the Election Commission is an autonomous body. It is their right to conduct elections, but it was wrong to proceed with the elections legally. This is injustice to those who prepared honestly and to the workers who were working hard. We will give a representation to the Election Commission in this regard.

Commission’s decision is wrong, not related to urban development department – CM

He said, ‘It was wrong to postpone the elections. The Urban Development Department has nothing to do with this. This is the decision of the Election Commission. Collectors gave their report and the Commission took a decision, it has to be accepted, but that decision is wrong.

Big cracks are clearly visible in the ruling alliance Mahayuti in Maharashtra, which has now become difficult for BJP and Shiv Sena to hide. The discord between Devendra Fadnavis’ group and Eknath Shinde’s group is intensifying. Meanwhile, Shiv Sena chief Eknath Shinde’s MP son Shrikant Shinde has given a big statement.

In fact, recently senior BJP leader Ravindra Chavan had said that he has got the responsibility to save the Mahayuti only till December 2. On this, Shrikant Shinde said, “Ravindra Chavan should tell whether BJP wants to keep the alliance even after December 2 or not.”

While answering media questions during the election campaign, Shrikant Shinde accepted the ongoing rift between BJP and Shiv Sena. When he was asked that the alliance has to be preserved only till December 2, Ravindra Chavan said this. What does it mean? In response, Shrikant Shinde said, “I don’t know what he said. Ask him only whether he wants to keep the alliance in future or not?”

Why did the issue of December 2 arise?

Actually, Municipal Council and Nagar Panchayat elections in Maharashtra are on December 2. In such a situation, speculations are being made that Mahayuti will be able to recover only till December 2. After this, the alliance partners seem to be moving apart.

Demand to make Eknath Shinde the Chief Minister again

Meanwhile, the issue of bringing Eknath Shinde as the chief ministerial face is again being raised in Maharashtra. Dada Bhuse, minister from Shinde faction of Maharashtra, gave a big statement during the civic election campaign. Dada Bhuse hinted at Eknath Shinde becoming the Chief Minister of Maharashtra again in the future.

He said, “Even today, if there is any Chief Minister’s face in the minds of people, it is that of Eknath Shinde. No such CM has been made in the history of the state. No one knows what will happen in the future.”

Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis said that he will write a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Union Education Minister to change the name of IIT Bombay to IIT Mumbai. Mumbai was also earlier known as Bombay and was officially renamed Mumbai in 1995 by the state government in honor of Mumbadevi and to erase the imprint of British colonial rule.

Union Minister Jitendra Singh had commented on the name

IIT Bombay came into limelight when Union Minister of State for Science and Technology Jitendra Singh arrived here and commented on its name. He had said, “As far as IIT Bombay is concerned, thankfully its name is still the same. You have not changed it to Mumbai. So that is another compliment for you. And the same is true for Madras also. It is still IIT Madras.”

MNS Chief Raj Thackeray was enraged

MNS chief Raj Thackeray had targeted the Union Minister’s statement. He said in X Post that the conspiracy of Marathi people to separate Mumbai from Maharashtra was always foiled by Marathi leaders and people. He said, “Our Marathi remained in Mumbai, Maharashtra only. The bitterness that was filled in their minds for decades has now started coming out once again. He said, “The people of Mumbai and all Marathi people living in the entire Mumbai Metropolitan Region should now open their eyes.

Efforts are definitely going on to capture the city- Thackeray

Raj Thackeray said that the name Mumbai bothers them (the ruling party) because it is named after Mumbai’s goddess Mumbadevi. Their children are Marathi people who have been living here for generations. Thackeray said that the central government tried to snatch Chandigarh from the control of Punjab, but backed down after opposition from all other parties. He said that the step back is temporary. He said, “Something similar is happening in the case of Mumbai also. Efforts are definitely going on to capture the city. First Mumbai and then the entire MMR area will be captured and linked to Gujarat. Marathi people should wake up.”

Maharashtra Deputy CM Ajit Pawar on Monday (24 November) gave clarification on his controversial statement ‘Vote, you will get funds’. He said that he has been facing various types of allegations in the last thirty-five years, but he does not owe anything to anyone. While campaigning for the local body elections to be held on December 2 in Jintur in Parbhani district, he said that the media keeps a close watch on everything he says and immediately associates any issue with him.

He said, “He respects the code of conduct and sometimes mistakes can happen in public work.” Ajit Pawar had said on Friday (November 21) while campaigning in Malegaon Nagar Panchayat of Baramati tehsil of Pune district that if the public elects his candidates, there will be no shortage of funds, but if they are ‘rejected’, he will also ‘reject’.

Despite allegations, I am not indebted to anyone – Ajit Pawar

On this statement, the opposition surrounded him and demanded an apology. Responding to the controversy, the Deputy Chief Minister said, “I understand the code of conduct and it should not be violated.” Despite many allegations, I know that I am not indebted to anyone.” Before the Jintur elections, he assured the development of the area and said, ”Alternative arrangements will be made for the people affected by the development works.”

Demanding impartial action from the Election Commission, he alleged that some non-governmental groups are visiting voters’ homes and asking for personal information and the law should be the same for everyone.

What did CM Devendra Fadnavis say?

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis had defended Ajit Pawar while reacting to his statement. On Sunday (November 23), he had rejected the issue of discrimination regarding funds and said that the government’s aim is to develop all areas. He said that even if our colleagues or anyone else had said this, it was not their intention and they would never discriminate like this.

In Maharashtra, the matter of inclusion of 2020 Palghar lynching case accused Kashinath Choudhary in BJP has gained momentum. Shiv Sena (UBT) chief and former Chief Minister has targeted BJP and Mahayuti government regarding this. Uddhav Thackeray was addressing the function of his party workers. During this, he made a scathing attack on Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Deputy CM Eknath Shinde.

Uddhav Thackeray asked to apologize to Hindu society for including Kashinath Choudhary in BJP. Raised a question to Thackeray, “How come all his sins have been forgiven today?”

Uddhav Thackeray targets Eknath Shinde

Uddhav Thackeray, while targeting Eknath Shinde without naming him, said that he stayed with us for 25 years, walked with us in the name of Hindutva, we adopted him, made him sit on our shoulders, took him from village to village. When they reached the top, they started kicking us. Uddhav Thackeray further said in a sarcastic tone that Delhi used to move due to the hoofs of Maratha horses. Today the same people are seen licking the shoes of Delhi. They are not from the saffron family, they are traitors.

Furious over inclusion of Kashinath Choudhary in BJP

Uddhav Thackeray expressed strong objection to the inclusion of Kashinath Choudhary, accused of killing sadhus in Palghar in 2020, in BJP. He said that at that time when I was the Chief Minister, Shiv Sena was being called anti-Hindutva. Today the same Kashinath Chaudhary has joined BJP. If he was guilty then why was he taken to the party and if he was innocent then why was he put in jail?

Uddhav Thakar asked BJP and Devendra Fadnavis to apologize to entire Maharashtra and Hindu society in Palghar case. Thackeray taunted that this becomes love jihad for others and immortal love for BJP itself.

Accused of giving tickets to drug mafia

Uddhav Thackeray, while targeting Modi government and Maharashtra government, said that the country is being ruined, anyone is being recruited into the party without investigation. A drug mafia was even given a mayor’s ticket.

Remembered Balasaheb Thackeray’s Shiv Sena

Boosting the morale of Shiv Sainiks, Uddhav Thackeray said that a person grows old not by age but by thinking. You all stood with Balasaheb like his shield. No one had the courage to look up. Today Shiv Sena is alive because of you people.

Recalling the incident of Janata Party era of 1977, he said that Shiv Sainiks had destroyed Morarji Desai’s meeting in Shivaji Park at the gesture of a finger.

Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis’s cousin brother has been elected unopposed in the Chikhaldara municipal elections in Amravati district of Maharashtra. These days a new pattern of unopposed elections is being seen in the elections of local self-government bodies in the state. Chief Minister Fadnavis’s cousin Alhad Kaloti had contested from this seat. Alhad Kaloti has now won the election unopposed.

17 corporators won unopposed in the Anagar Nagar Panchayat elections of Solapur district. After this, Prajakt Patil was also elected unopposed for the post of Municipal President. After this, BJP leader and minister Jaikumar Rawal’s mother was elected unopposed to the post of Municipal President in Dondai Municipal Council and 7 corporators also won unopposed. MLA Ravi Rana played an important role in this victory.

Chief Minister’s brother elected unopposed

Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis’s cousin brother has also been elected unopposed in the Chikhaldara municipal elections of Amravati district. MLA Ravi Rana played a big role in this entire effort. After the elections, Ravi Rana directly called Chief Minister Fadnavis.

Alhad Kaloti was in the fray in Chikhaldara Municipality elections. He had filed his nomination for the post of corporator from division number 10-B. Local leaders made efforts to ensure that Chief Minister Fadnavis’s cousin brother Alhad Kaloti wins unopposed.

Elected unopposed on the initiative of MLA Ravi Rana.

In this, MLA Ravi Rana took the initiative and ultimately this election went unopposed, due to which Alhad Kaloti emerged victorious. The candidate who filed nomination against him from the division withdrew his application, due to which the Chief Minister’s cousin brother became the corporator unopposed.

Chikhaldara Municipal Council elections had become a topic of discussion for everyone because of Alhad Kaloti, who contested the elections for the first time. But today he was declared victorious unopposed. His rival candidates withdrew their names, thereby confirming his victory.