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.

Mumbai: Mumbai began Thursday on a relatively cool and crisp note, offering residents a brief glimpse of winter-like comfort. Clear skies, light winds and lower humidity made for a pleasant early morning. However, the relief was short-lived as a visible layer of smog soon settled over the city, reducing visibility and once again underscoring Mumbai’s worsening air pollution crisis.

Despite favourable weather conditions forecast by the India Meteorological Department (IMD), air quality quickly emerged as the city’s biggest concern. The IMD had predicted a bright and comfortable day, with temperatures expected to hover between 17°C and 34°C. Yet, commuters, morning walkers and schoolchildren stepping out early were greeted by hazy surroundings and an acrid smell in the air, particularly in traffic-heavy corridors and low-lying areas.

According to data from air quality monitoring platform AQI.in, Mumbai’s overall Air Quality Index (AQI) stood at 254 during the early hours, placing it in the ‘unhealthy’ category. After showing signs of improvement over the past few weeks, pollution levels have once again deteriorated. Such AQI levels pose health risks to all residents, with children, senior citizens and those suffering from respiratory or cardiac ailments being especially vulnerable.

The renewed spike in pollution is largely being attributed to construction dust and fine particulate matter. Massive government-led infrastructure projects, including metro rail corridors, flyovers, coastal road extensions and extensive road-widening works, continue across the city. These, coupled with aggressive private real estate development, are releasing large volumes of dust into the atmosphere. Vehicular emissions during peak traffic hours are further compounding the problem, especially at key junctions.

Several areas emerged as major pollution hotspots. The Wadala Truck Terminal recorded a worrying AQI of 407, categorised as ‘hazardous’, indicating conditions that can seriously impact even healthy individuals. Chembur and Colaba followed with AQI readings of 328 and 318, respectively, both falling in the ‘severe’ category. Sion registered an AQI of 317, while Worli, a prominent commercial and residential hub, recorded 308.

Suburban areas fared marginally better, though pollution remained widespread. Kandivali East logged an AQI of 107 and Goregaon East stood at 130, both categorised as ‘poor’. Other areas such as Parel-Bhoiwada (153), Borivali West (177) and Charkop (187) also slipped into the poor range, reflecting the citywide spread of pollution.

For context, AQI levels between 0–50 are considered good, 51–100 moderate, 101–150 poor, 151–200 unhealthy and anything above 200 hazardous. With large parts of Mumbai hovering at or above unhealthy levels, concerns are growing over the long-term health implications as winter progresses and pollution episodes become more frequent.