Nagpur: Maharashtra Congress President Harshwardhan Sapkal, centre, releases the party manifesto ahead of the BMC elections, in Nagpur, Tuesday, Jan. 6, 2026. (PTI Photo)
Maharashtra Municipal Election 2026 Highlights: As many as 29 of the 227 seats for the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) polls will see a two-cornered fight on January 15 as the Congress and Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi (VBA) led by Prakash Ambedkar, have not fielded candidates in these seats. In these 29 seats, the BJP-Shinde Sena alliance will be involved in a direct fight with the Sena UBT and MNS. A majority of these seats are from western suburbs, parts of south Mumbai and some areas in eastern suburbs. As part of their alliance for the BMC polls, Congress is contesting on 143 out of 227 seats in Mumbai, while the VBA is fighting on 46 seats.
Parties step up campaigning: The Mumbai Congress on Tuesday released its manifesto for the upcoming civic polls, promising measures to improve the city’s air quality and introduce universal health cards that would allow citizens to access free medicines. Meanwhile, All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) chief Asaduddin Owaisi expressed confidence that his party would perform strongly in the 2026 BMC elections, citing what he described as a positive response wherever AIMIM has contested municipal polls. Earlier this week, Owaisi alleged the existence of a “water tanker mafia” in Mumbai and appealed to voters to support AIMIM candidates, promising strict action against those responsible if the party comes to power.
BJP and Shinde led Sena’s direct fight with Thackerays: The VBA was expected to contest 62 seats but the party could not find candidates in 21 seats. Later, they fielded their candidates in five of these seats, leading to a friendly fight with Congress and other allies in these wards – 133 (Rashtriya Samaj Party), 125 (RPI-Gavai) and 116, 140 and 181 (Congress). “Avoiding vote division on 29 seats will put BJP and Shinde led Sena in a direct fight with the partie led be Thackerays. In a closely fought ward elections, avoiding division of few hundred votes can produce a different result,” said a senior Sena UBT leader.
After repeated attacks by Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, BJP’s Bhosari MLA Mahesh Landge on Wednesday said he (Ajit Pawar) should introspect, especially with regard to corruption allegations. Landge pointed at the corruption allegations in the Rs 70,000 crore irrigation ‘scam’, which the BJP had made against him in the past.
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The Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), whose poll symbol is a clock, on Wednesday launched a new campaign titled "Alarm" for the January 15 polls to the Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad civic bodies and targeted the local leadership of its ally BJP, accusing the saffron party of failing to deliver basic services in both cities.
Announcing the campaign here, NCP president and Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar said worsening civic issues such as water shortage, garbage pile-ups, traffic congestion and rising pollution levels were "alarm bells" signalling administrative failure at the municipal level.
The NCP asserted the two key civic bodies need the "Ajit Pawar model" of discipline and delivery. — PTI
CPI-Marxist leader John Brittas on Wednesday took a jibe at the Congress over its post-poll alliance with the BJP in a municipal council in Maharashtra, saying the party has abandoned its "secular principles." The CPI(M) leader took to X, pointing out the assertion of the Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha of the unity of the INDIA bloc parties against the "RSS ideology" to say that the move is "unacceptable." "Recently, Rahul Gandhi had said that while there may be 'tactical contests' between INDIA bloc members, all of them stand united against RSS ideology," Brittas said. — PTI
On healthcare, the NCP has promised advanced primary health centres in every ward, free medical check-ups, upgraded municipal hospitals and integrated mental health and de-addiction services. In education, it has pledged to modernise BMC schools with digital classrooms, provide free nutritious meals and expand vocational and skill-based training. — PTI
Key promises the the Nationalist Congress Party in its manifesto include construction of 500 km of new roads in five years, modernisation of bridges and flyovers, AI-based traffic management systems and development of new economic hubs in areas such as BKC, Worli and the eastern suburbs to generate employment.
The manifesto also commits to 24x7 clean water supply, free water for old chawls and slum areas, a zero-waste policy, river rejuvenation projects and strengthened flood-control infrastructure. — PTI
The Nationalist Congress Party on Wednesday released its manifesto for the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections, promising inclusive development, transparent governance and large-scale infrastructure upgrades to transform Mumbai into a global city.
The party, led by Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, said its vision, articulated as “Aapli Mumbai, Sarvansathi Mumbai”, aims to ensure equal opportunities for the poor, middle class and affluent citizens, while placing the “Mumbaikar” at the centre of policymaking. — PTI
Addressing a gathering at Shivaji Chowk in the town ahead of the January 15 elections to the Bhiwandi Nizampur City Municipal Corporation (BNCMC), CM Devendra Fadnavis called for building a modern Bhiwandi, which he rued, has faced a massive development backlog over the years.
Highlighting the town's glorious history, the Chief Minister, who was campaining for Mahayuti candidates, traced its origins back to the 8th century under King Bhim Dev and acknowledged its pivotal role in the freedom struggle.
"Unfortunately, for years, this town faced a massive development backlog," Fadnavis stated. — PTI
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Wednesday vowed to bring all-round transformation of Bhiwandi in Thane district and ensure 'Ease of Living' for every resident of the powerloom town if the BJP-led Mahayuti coalition is elected to rule its civic body.
He asserted that the Ladki Bahin Yojana, under which poorer women are provided a monthly assistance of Rs 1,500 by the government, will not be stopped under any circumstances. — PTI
A fresh controversy has erupted ahead of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections, with a candidate alleging that she was pressured to withdraw her nomination from Colaba by Maharashtra Assembly Speaker Rahul Narvekar.
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Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sachin Ahir on Wednesday slammed the BJP for aligning with the Congress and AIMIM in two municipal councils in Maharashtra, saying it reflects the ruling party's double standards and shows it can do anything to grab power. — PTI
The Congress on Wednesday suspended from the party 12 newly-elected councillors in Maharashtra's Ambernath Municipal Council along with its block president for forging an alliance with the BJP after last month's civic polls.
The BJP forged a post-poll understanding with the Congress and Ajit Pawar's NCP in Ambernath town in Thane district, securing a majority of 31 seats, even though the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena is the single largest party with 27 members. — PTI
Following the civic polls last month, the BJP joined hands with the Congress, its arch-rival, and the Ajit Pawar-led Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) under the banner of 'Ambernath Vikas Aghadi' to form the Ambernath Municipal Council leadership, sidelining ally Shiv Sena.
The BJP also struck a similar alliance with the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) and other parties in the Akot Municipal Council in Akola district.
Fadnavis, however, said such arrangements were not approved by the party leadership and violated discipline.Such alliances would not be acceptable under any circumstances and action would be taken against the local leaders, he said.
"I am making it very clear that any alliance with the Congress or AIMIM will not be accepted. If any local leader has taken such a decision on their own, it is wrong in terms of discipline and action will be taken," Fadnavis told a news channel, adding that instructions had already been issued to scrap such alliances.
Maharashtra Dy CM Ajit Pawar holds a roadshow in Pune.
https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js#watch | BMC elections | Maharashtra Dy CM Ajit Pawar holds a roadshow in Pune. pic.twitter.com/9WzpJC78CW
— ANI (@ANI) January 7, 2026
On Election Commission's objection to a political party's song, NCP leader Nawab Malik said that no election can be contested based on caste or regionalism. The Election Commission has raised concerns about the use of songs, and all parties must follow the Model Code of Conduct.
https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js#watch | Mumbai, Maharashtra: On Election Commission's objection to a political party's song, NCP leader Nawab Malik says, "... No election can be contested based on caste or regionalism. The Election Commission has raised concerns about the use of songs, and all parties must… pic.twitter.com/oDCnuBpiC7
— ANI (@ANI) January 7, 2026
On the BMC polls, Shiv Sena MP Shrikant Shinde said that the party has always engaged in the politics of development in Ambernath and will continue to do so.
https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.jsVIDEO | Kalyan, Maharashtra: Shiv Sena MP Shrikant Shinde says, “Shiv Sena has always engaged in the politics of development in Ambernath and will continue to do so.”
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) January 6, 2026
(Full video available on PTI Videos – https://t.co/n147TvrpG7) pic.twitter.com/ydSGiyrsNI
Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut said that BJP has double standards and that they have formed an alliance with AIMIM in Mira Bhayandar and with Congress in Ambernath
https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.jsVIDEO | BMC polls: "BJP has double standards... They have formed an alliance with AIMIM in Mira Bhayandar and with Congress in Ambernath," says Shiv Sena(UBT) MP Sanjay Raut.
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) January 7, 2026
(Full video available on PTI Videos - https://t.co/n147TvrpG7)#maharashtra pic.twitter.com/czKwDKoirQ
Nearly 20 per cent of the staff deputed for the January 15 elections to the Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation (NMMC) have skipped the mandatory training sessions, prompting the civic administration to issue legal notices to the absentees, officials said on Tuesday.
Out of around 4,000 employees scheduled to undergo election-related training so far, as many as 782 (19.55 per cent) have failed to attend the sessions, a civic corporation spokesperson said.
The NMMC elections will be conducted at 1,148 polling stations. In line with State Election Commission guidelines, employees from government, semi-government offices and schools in Navi Mumbai and adjoining Raigad district have been appointed for poll duty.
Municipal commissioner and Election Officer Kailas Shinde has issued a stern warning to the absentee staff, terming election duty a "national responsibility", according to an official NMMC release issued on Tuesday night.
The release stated that legal notices have been served on the 782 absent employees, directing them to immediately report to the office of the Returning Officer of their respective departments.
"If the employees concerned fail to comply with the notice and continue to remain absent from the training, criminal cases will be registered against them," it warned.
Shiv Sena (UBT) president Uddhav Thackeray and Maharashtra Navirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray, whose parties have formed an alliance for the Mumbai civic body polls, on Tuesday visited "shakhas" (party offices) as part of campaigning in the city. The Thackeray cousins, who have come together after nearly 20 years of political estrangement, are preferring to visit "shakhas" of their parties over holding rallies for the January 15 polls to the BMC.
On Tuesday, Raj Thackeray visited shakhas in suburban Malad to seek votes for candidates of the Shiv Sena- (UBT)-MNS-Nationalist Congress Party (SP) alliance. Shiv Sena (UBT) MLA Aaditya Thackeray and MNS leader Amit Thackeray visited shakhas in Kalina.
The BMC Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) on Tuesday said it has received from the Maharashtra State Election Commission (SEC) the final voters list for 226 of the total 227 civic wards going to polls on January 15.
In a release, the BMC said the electoral rolls with photographs of voters have been made available on the civic body's official website as well as at ward offices for public access.
The list for one ward could not be published due to technical reasons and names of electors will be released separately after the issue is resolved, said the release.
A civic official said the voters list of Ward No. 8 in western suburbs was not yet published "due to some technical reasons".
The final voters list has been prepared after considering claims and objections received during the stipulated period, the release said.
All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) Chief Asaduddin Owaisi expressed his confidence in winning big in the upcoming 2026 Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections, saying that the party has been getting very good response, "wherever it fielded its candidate in the municipal corporation elections." Speaking to the media after addressing a public meeting, Owaisi said, "Wherever we have fielded our candidates in the municipal corporation elections, we have been getting a very good response. Our party will have many municipal corporators..." Earlier on Monday, AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi alleged the existence of a "water tanker mafia" while campaigning for the 2026 BMC elections and appealed to voters to elect his party's candidates, promising strict action against those responsible if AIMIM comes to power.
In the manifesto released ahead of the BMC polls in Maharashtra, Congress promises to protect Mumbai's environment, including safeguarding open spaces, improving air quality and strengthening climate-resilience against floods. Special attention is promised for women, senior citizens, youth and marginalised communities through welfare schemes and social support initiatives. Five percent each of the BMC budget will be allocated for the welfare of members belonging to the Scheduled Castes (SC) and Scheduled Tribes (ST) communities.
The Mumbai Congress on Tuesday unveiled its manifesto for the upcoming Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections, promising among other things, to improve the city's air quality and distribute universal health cards that will enable citizens to get free medicines.
The manifesto, unveiled by the party's city unit president Varsha Gaikwad, also promises fair and transparent redevelopment policies, and affordable housing for low-income and middle-income groups.
It focuses on improving civic governance, public services and quality of life for citizens, with an emphasis on inclusivity and transparency.
The party said the manifesto presents a "people-centric roadmap for Mumbai's civic development and aims to restore efficient, compassionate and responsive municipal governance".
Maharashtra Municipal Election 2026 Live Updates: Unopposed victories in Maharashtra’s municipal corporation elections have risen sharply this time, marking a clear break from previous trends. While detailed ward wise data from earlier elections across all 29 municipal corporations is not publicly available, figures show that unopposed wins were rare.
In the previous civic polls, 11 candidates were elected unopposed, and before that, the figure stood at 10. In the current elections, however, the number has jumped to 69, triggering a political controversy.
Opposition parties have alleged that candidates were forced or persuaded to withdraw at the last minute, paving the way for ruling alliance nominees to be elected without a contest. The ruling parties have rejected the charge, arguing that the withdrawals reflect their political strength. The State Election Commission (SEC) has said it will examine the cases and has asked local officials to submit reports on the wards where candidates were elected unopposed.
BMC Polls Live Updates: All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) president Asaduddin Owaisi has accused the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party and its allies of attempting to undermine Muslim religious institutions through the Waqf Act.
Addressing a rally in Nanded on Monday evening, Owaisi alleged that the recently passed Waqf Act is being used to “lock mosques” and challenge the ownership of centuries-old dargahs, claiming the government aims to transfer their control to the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI).
He urged voters to reject the BJP, Ajit Pawar-led NCP, and Eknath Shinde's Shiv Sena in the Nanded-Waghala Municipal Corporation elections scheduled on January 15.
Owaisi asserted that Muslims are "not tenants or second-class citizens" and India is their country too.
AIMIM has fielded 37 candidates for the 81-seat Nanded civic body.
"People should vote against these parties to send a strong message to those seeking to finish off the Waqf Board in the state and the country," Owaisi said.
"The intention of the government through the Waqf Act is to lock the mosques, show that dargahs which are over 100 years old are not owned by Waqf and that the ASI owns them. This election is taking place after the Waqf Act came into force. People must send a message to Shinde, Pawar and Prime Minister Narendra Modi that we don't accept this law,” he said.
"People should use their right to vote against this law that is made against mosques, dargahs and kabrastans," he added.
Owaisi also said that the SIR (Special Intensive Revision-conducted in several states) will take place in Maharashtra, and if people want their names to remain in the electoral rolls, they should vote this time.
Defending his focus on religious issues, Owaisi said, “People say I bring mosques and dargahs into politics. I say this because my connection to these places is rooted in the Constitution's promise of liberty of thought, expression, and belief.” He also criticised Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar for parting ways with his uncle Sharad Pawar.
"He is Ajit Pawar, so he is out (referring to allegations against him), but if a Muslim had been there (in his place), he would have been jailed for 75 years,” Owaisi claimed.
Taking a swipe at BJP MP Ashok Chavan, Owaisi said, “Modi didn't even make him a minister (at the Centre). He should have at least made him a MoS." The AIMIM leader claimed that Modi sidelined Chavan "like a fly taken out of a cup of tea.”
Referring to the Mumbai serial train blasts (of 2006), Owaisi said the incident "claimed 185 lives" and 11 Muslim men were imprisoned for 19 years.
“Kamal Ansari (arrested in the train blasts case) died in jail during COVID (in 2021). Neither the victims nor the accused got justice. Was there a CM of AIMIM or Congress at that time? People should question Congress about this,” he said.
-PTI
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