Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Friday said the results of the 2026 municipal corporation elections clearly show that voters have chosen development over obstruction. Addressing the media in Thane, Shinde thanked the people of the state for giving a decisive mandate to the Mahayuti alliance.
He said the strong performance of the alliance—which includes the BJP, Shiv Sena and the Nationalist Congress Party—would allow the government to move faster on infrastructure and public welfare projects across Maharashtra.
Shinde expressed special satisfaction over the outcome in Mumbai, calling it a turning point for the country’s financial capital. He said the city would now get a mayor from the Mahayuti alliance, ending years of control by rival political groups. He also acknowledged the guidance and support of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, stating that the central leadership’s vision for urban growth had inspired voters.
The deputy chief minister said the state government has focused on improving daily life in Mumbai over the last few years. He reiterated the alliance’s commitment to making roads pothole-free, reducing corruption and expanding civic healthcare services, including strengthening Balasaheb Thackeray Aapla Dawakhana clinics.
The civic election results marked a setback for the Shiv Sena (UBT) and the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena, which contested the polls together in Mumbai. Despite their alliance, they failed to stop the Mahayuti from gaining the upper hand in the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation.
According to provisional figures released by the State Election Commission, the BJP and Shiv Sena together secured a comfortable lead in the BMC, while the Shiv Sena (UBT), Congress and other parties trailed behind.
Political observers note that the Shiv Sena (UBT) has been weakened over the years following the party split in 2022, with several former corporators shifting allegiance to the Shinde-led Sena. The latest results further reflect the changing political balance in Mumbai’s civic body.
