Maharashtra
BMC Elections 2026: Mumbai’s Civic Polls Return After 4 Years, Setting Stage For High-Stakes Multi-Party Battle
Mumbai: With the State Election Commission announcing the dates, preparations for the long-delayed BMC elections after nearly four years are finally underway.
During this period, the split in the Shiv Sena, shifting alliances among the BJP, Congress, and the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), and repeated delays in holding polls led to the BMC being run by appointed administrators rather than elected representatives.
Reshaped by recent political upheavals in Maharashtra, the upcoming BMC election has transformed from a once-predictable contest into a high-stakes, multi-party battle.
As Mumbai moves back to elected governance, the results will reflect public opinion, political strength, and the future course of urban politics in India’s financial hub.
In the years after Independence, the Indian National Congress held a strong grip on the BMC, reflecting its dominance in Maharashtra politics. This began to change in the late 20th century, as the Shiv Sena, built on Marathi pride and regional identity, steadily gained influence in Mumbai.
The party first came to power in the BMC in 1985, and by 1997, it had established firm control, beginning nearly two decades of largely uninterrupted rule. For years, the Shiv Sena governed the BMC either alone or in alliance with the BJP.
However, the long-standing alliance was disrupted in 2017, a turning point when the Shiv Sena emerged as the single largest party while the BJP made significant gains, finishing a close second. Despite being allies at the state and national levels, the two parties clashed fiercely, exposing cracks in their partnership.
In 2019, Maharashtra politics saw major shifts with the formation of the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government, an alliance of the Shiv Sena, Congress, and NCP led by Uddhav Thackeray.
The political landscape changed further when the Shiv Sena split into Uddhav-led and Eknath Shinde-led factions, and the NCP divided into Sharad Pawar and Ajit Pawar groups in 2023.
In 2022, Shinde led a rebellion, with most Shiv Sena legislators joining him and the BJP to form the state government. This weakened the original Shiv Sena faction and removed a strong regional rival to the BJP in state politics.
With the Shiv Sena (Shinde faction), the BJP is poised to fulfil its long-standing goal of electing a mayor from its alliance. On the other hand, there is strong speculation that the Shiv Sena (UBT) and Maharashtra Navnirman Sena may join forces in an attempt to challenge the ruling alliance and regain power.
The upcoming BMC election is more than just about roads, flooding, or waste management—it marks the return of elected leadership after nearly four years under state-appointed administrators Iqbal Singh Chahal from March 2022, followed by Bhushan Gagrani in March 2024.
Voters will compare the performance of administrators with what elected leaders could deliver. For the rival Shiv Sena factions, the polls are a fight for legacy and legitimacy, the BJP aims to strengthen its hold in urban Maharashtra, and Congress and other regional parties hope to regain a foothold in Mumbai.
Major political parties
1992 | 2002 | 2012 | 2017
Shiv Sena — 69 | 98 | 75 | 84
BJP — 14 | 35 | 31 | 82
Congress — 112 | 60 | 52 | 31
NCP — 0 | 13 | 13 | 09
Samajwadi Party — 0 | 10 | 09 | 06
(In 1992, Mumbai had 220 wards, which have now been increased to 227.)
Crime
Sensational Incident in Mumbai: Man Found with Knife Lodged in His Head Outside Sion Hospital ICU; Allegations of Medical Negligence

A shocking incident has emerged from Mumbai, creating panic among patients and their relatives within a hospital premises.
According to reports, a man was seen standing outside the Trauma Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of Lokmanya Tilak Municipal General Hospital (Sion Hospital) with a knife lodged in his head. The horrifying sight caused chaos and fear among those present at the scene.
Eyewitnesses stated that the man was critically injured but did not receive immediate emergency medical attention for some time. Allegedly, he had come to the hospital seeking treatment, but no doctor attended to him promptly as an emergency case, and he was reportedly ignored.
After the incident was reported, hospital authorities and the police arrived at the spot. The injured man was later admitted to the ICU, where his condition remains critical, and doctors are making efforts to save his life.
This incident has raised serious questions about the functioning of the hospital administration. Patients and their families have alleged that if timely treatment had been provided, the situation might not have become so severe.
Maharashtra
West Bengal Assembly Election Results 2026: ‘BJP Win Will Curb Infiltration, Terror,’ Says CM Devendra Fadnavis; Credits PM Modi For Surge

Mumbai, May 4: Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Monday said the BJP’s victory in West Bengal would help save the country from infiltrators and terrorist activities, asserting that people had reposed strong faith in the party and Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Citing the BJP’s performance in Bengal, Assam, and Puducherry, he said 78 per cent of the country is now ruled by the BJP-led NDA.
The BJP has won six seats and is leading in 196 seats, while the TMC has bagged one as the counting of votes in the West Bengal Assembly polls progressed, indicating a saffron surge in the state.
“The victory in West Bengal will save our country from infiltrators, terrorist activities, and attacks. The way the Mamata Banerjee-led government functioned would ensure infiltrators from Bangladesh and send them across the country. These people would take away our jobs and pose a threat to our security, sovereignty, and unity,” Fadnavis said.
Referring to his campaign during the Bengal polls, Fadnavis said he was told that locals considered the BJP an outsider party, to which he responded that the party was founded by Shyama Prasad Mukherjee and had deep roots.
He claimed the BJP has secured a two-thirds majority in the state, reflecting people’s trust in Modi.
Fadnavis said there was a growing trust factor for the BJP and PM Modi across states such as West Bengal, Puducherry, and Assam, adding that the party would bring West Bengal out of “bad rule”.
He criticised the erstwhile governments of Congress and the Left, calling the last 15 years under Banerjee the “worst of all” tenures.
He said West Bengal, once the country’s financial hub with Kolkata as its economic capital, had declined due to the previous governments.
“Of the total FDI which our country receives, West Bengal could not even attract half a per cent,” Fadnavis said.
The Chief Minister said West Bengal was once highly industrialised, but nearly 7,000 major industries had left, turning it into a “jungle raj”.
He credited PM Modi’s vision and infrastructure push, including roads and metro projects, for convincing voters about real transformation.
Fadnavis hailed Union Home Minister Amit Shah as a master strategist and also lauded BJP president Nitin Nabin for ensuring a major victory.
He said the Bengal victory was dedicated to BJP workers who were attacked or killed after the previous assembly elections, asserting that the party’s “chariot of victory cannot be stopped”.
Drawing a comparison with Assam, Fadnavis said infiltration and terror activities had stopped after the BJP came to power and that the north-eastern state is now contributing significantly to growth.
“Similarly, West Bengal will be seen as a growth partner of the country in the coming days,” he added.
Fadnavis also thanked the Election Commission for conducting peaceful polls, claiming that no lives were lost.
Maharashtra
Action taken against Dhulia Muslim settlement is totally unjust, Abu Asim Azmi writes to Minority Commission requesting a stay on the action and notice

Mumbai: Maharashtra Samajwadi Party leader Abu Asim Azmi has demanded a stay on the notice of illegal eviction of houses from Muslim settlements in Dhuleya and demolition action from Minorities Commission Chairman Pyare Khan. Anhusan said that it is completely unjust to evict 275 Muslims in Dhuleya, while the government had also issued a GR for their rehabilitation through the Prime Minister’s Awas Yojana. This family had been living in Dhuleya Lal Sardarnagar Ant Batti area for 40 to 50 years, but the administration has suddenly evicted them by taking demolition action. They were illegally served a notice on April 21. The state government had also prepared a plan for the rehabilitation of the residents under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana in connection with the GR of March 26, 2026. The sudden action of the administration is inhuman and illegal, therefore, the Minorities Commission is requested to impose a stay order on this illegal notice and provide justice to the residents. In this regard, Advocate Zubair of Dhule and the residents have requested that they get justice and a stay be imposed on the illegal demolition notice. Abu Asim Azmi has sent a letter to the Minorities Commission on the demand of the residents, demanding a stay and a stay on the action.
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