Mumbai: The upcoming Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections, scheduled for January 15, 2026, are set to be a definitive battle for Mumbai’s soul. At the heart of this contest is the ‘Marathi Manoos’ factor, a demographic that comprises approximately over 30 per cent of the city’s electorate but holds disproportionate influence over the narrative of ‘Marathi Asmita’ (pride).

With the split in the Shiv Sena and the emergence of competing claims for the Marathi vote, several key wards and areas have become the primary battlegrounds.

Traditionally, the epicentre of Marathi politics, these areas are the birthplace of the Shiv Sena.

The Dynamics: These wards have seen a shift from mill-worker-dominated chawls to luxury high-rises. However, the core identity remains fiercely Marathi.

Key Conflict: This is a prestige battle for the Uddhav Thackeray-led Sena (UBT) to retain its home turf against the Eknath Shinde-led Sena, which claims the true legacy of Bal Thackeray. The MNS (Maharashtra Navnirman Sena) under Raj Thackeray also remains a potent third force here, often acting as a ‘spoiler’ or a kingmaker.

While the western suburbs are often associated with Gujarati and North Indian populations, specific areas like Vile Parle (East) and Dahisar have dense Marathi clusters.

Vile Parle (Ward K-East): Known as a cultural hub, the Marathi middle class here is vocal and politically active. The BJP is aggressively courting this segment by promising a ‘Marathi Mayor,’ a strategic move to peel away traditional Sena loyalists.

Dahisar (Ward R-North): As one of the last frontiers of the city, Dahisar has a major ‘Bhumiputra’ population. Issues of local redevelopment and infrastructure are being framed through the lens of preserving Marathi areas.

The eastern suburbs house a massive Marathi-speaking population, particularly in the lower-middle-class and labour segments.

Bhandup & Mulund (Ward S): Bhandup has historically seen high-voltage clashes between the Sena and MNS. The ‘Marathi vs Outsider’ narrative often surfaces here regarding job opportunities and housing.

Chembur (Ward M-West): This area sees a mix of Dalit-Marathi and upper-caste Marathi voters. The Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) is counting on a consolidated Marathi-Dalit-Muslim front, while the Mahayuti is focusing on splitting the Marathi vote through the Shinde faction’s ‘Sons of the Soil’ rhetoric.

In a historic departure from its usual plank of ‘Vikas’ (Development), the BJP has recently declared that if the Mahayuti alliance wins, the Mayor of Mumbai will be a Marathi Manoos. This is a direct attempt to neutralise the ‘Anti-Marathi’ tag often used against the party by the Sena UBT faction.

The Thackeray Cousins: Reports of a tactical understanding between Uddhav and Raj Thackeray could consolidate the Marathi vote.

Delimitation Impact: With nearly 20-25 per cent of ward boundaries modified in the recent rectification, traditional vote banks have been disrupted, making grassroots mobilisation critical.

Housing & Displacement: The ‘Marathi Manoos’ being pushed out of Mumbai to the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR) due to high costs is a primary emotional trigger that the opposition will use against the ruling dispensation.

As January 15 approaches, these wards will not just decide who controls the country’s richest civic body, but also who truly represents the Marathi identity in the city.

With the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation elections gathering momentum, Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Wednesday intensified grassroots outreach by visiting several Shiv Sena branches across North Mumbai. Shinde interacted with party workers in Dahisar, Borivali, Kandivali, Malad and Magathane, urging unity and aggressive mobilisation ahead of the civic polls scheduled for January 15.

Referring to the announcement of the municipal elections, Shinde said the political atmosphere in Mumbai had clearly heated up. Using a colloquial metaphor, he remarked that the betel nut had been split and the wedding rush had begun, signalling that the real political contest was now underway.

He appealed to Shiv Sainiks to work together with discipline and commitment to ensure the saffron flag is hoisted over the civic body. Stressing organisational strength, Shinde said the coming weeks would be crucial in determining who controls the country’s richest municipal corporation.

During his interactions, Shinde highlighted the development work carried out during his two and a half year tenure as Chief Minister, followed by initiatives taken under Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and the Mahayuti government. He said citizens of Mumbai were aware of the scale of work undertaken across the city during this period.

According to Shinde, key civic issues such as housing, redevelopment, infrastructure and basic amenities remain at the top of the government’s agenda. He said the government has taken several important decisions to fulfil the dream of home ownership for citizens.

Shinde specifically referred to initiatives aimed at creating a slum free Mumbai, resolving long pending concerns of residents living in and around the Sanjay Gandhi National Park, and accelerating redevelopment of old and dilapidated settlements. These measures, he said, reflect the government’s commitment to inclusive urban development.

Reiterating confidence in the ruling alliance, Shinde said the Mahayuti government has been functioning capably across the state and expressed optimism that it would return to power in the civic body as well. He described the alliance’s vision as a double engine government that would now develop Mumbai at the speed of a triple engine.

Appealing to party workers, Shinde called for a massive victory on January 15 and said celebrations should follow the declaration of results the next day.

Several party leaders, including MLA Prakash Surve, Yuva Sena core committee member Raj Surve, Shiv Sena spokesperson Sheetal Mhatre, division chief Swapnil Tambwekar and local office bearers, were present during the interactions.

The Navi Mumbai Police have seized drugs worth over Rs 21 lakh, including mephedrone and MDMA, and arrested a Nigerian national in connection with the case, officials said on Wednesday.

The seizure followed a routine police patrol carried out on December 15 along Palm Beach Road. A team noticed a foreign national standing suspiciously near a parked scooter late at night. When the police approached him for questioning, the man abandoned the vehicle and fled the spot, raising further suspicion.

Upon checking the scooter, the police recovered 70 grams of mephedrone powder, estimated to be worth nearly Rs 17 lakh. In addition, 120 MDMA tablets were also found during the initial search, an official release stated.

Following the recovery, police launched a search operation to trace the suspect. He was later arrested from his residence in Koparkhairane. During a subsequent search of the premises, police recovered additional quantities of drugs, including mephedrone powder worth around Rs 4 lakh and 40 purple MDMA tablets.

While the combined value of the seized mephedrone powder has been estimated at over Rs 21 lakh, the police did not specify the market value of the MDMA tablets recovered during the operation.

The accused has been identified as Aniehe Kingsley Chinedu, also known as Aney Kingsley Chinedu. He is a Nigerian national and has been booked under relevant sections of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act.

Police officials said further investigations are underway to determine the source of the drugs and to identify possible links to a larger drug supply network operating in the region. Authorities are also examining whether the accused was involved in drug distribution across Navi Mumbai and neighbouring areas.

The Navi Mumbai Police said such operations would continue as part of ongoing efforts to curb drug trafficking and ensure public safety.