Maharashtra Civic Body Elections 2026: PM Modi Congratulates Fadnavis After Mahayuti Victory; BJP Creates History In BMC Polls

Mumbai: The BJP appears to be strengthening its political control over Maharashtra along with Mumbai – the financial capital of the country. In the elections held for 29 municipal corporations in Maharashtra, including the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) of Mumbai, the BJP has registered a massive victory. 

Who has secured the public’s mandate?

The Mahayuti alliance, which is led by the BJP, has secured a majority in the BMC for the first time. Furthermore, the BJP will now have mayors in cities from Nagpur to Pune, while the Thackeray brothers have suffered a complete defeat.

In the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections, after a close fight with the Uddhav Thackeray faction of the Shiv Sena, the Mahayuti alliance comprising the BJP and the Eknath Shinde faction of the Shiv Sena have secured a majority. 

 What did PM Modi say?

Prime Minister Narendra Modi took to social media on Friday to thank the people of the state for the historic verdict.

"Thank you Maharashtra! The dynamic people of the state bless the NDA’s agenda of pro-people good governance! The results of various municipal corporation elections indicate that NDA’s bond with the people of Maharashtra has further deepened. Our track record and vision for development have struck a chord. My gratitude to the people across Maharashtra. This is a vote to add momentum to progress and celebrate the glorious culture the state is associated with," the prime minister said in his statement on social media.

Thank you Maharashtra!

The dynamic people of the state bless the NDA’s agenda of pro-people good governance!

The results of various municipal corporation elections indicate that NDA’s bond with the people of Maharashtra has further deepened. Our track record and vision for…

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) January 16, 2026

What did Fadnavis say?

He termed the victory a record-breaking mandate and said it was a clear message from the people that they want development and honesty. “I wholeheartedly thank the people of Maharashtra. Out of 29 municipal corporations, 25 have been won by the BJP or the Mahayuti alliance. The Mahayuti flag will also fly high over the BMC. We took the development agenda given by Prime the Minister Narendra Modi to the people, and they have supported it overwhelmingly,” Fadnavis said. 

“This record-breaking mandate shows that people want development and honesty. I also thank Balasaheb Thackeray for his blessings,” he added.

Fadnavis further stated that his agenda would continue to be development. 

“Our soul is Hindutva, and we are proud of it. Hindutva and development cannot be separated. Those who consider Hindutva a way of life have supported us. The government's agenda will continue to be development,” the Maharashtra CM added.

The Maharashtra chief minister also appealed to party workers to exercise restraint and behave responsibly. 

“I request the party workers not to indulge in any kind of frenzy after the victory. The people have elected us to serve them, not to behave irresponsibly,” Fadnavis said.

How did the MNS perform?

The Maharashtra Navirman Sena, which is led by Raj Thackeray, who champions the cause of the Marathi people, has been completely wiped out. The MNS received no support in Mumbai and failed to make any impact in Pune. Raj Thackeray was involved in a controversy ahead of the polls due his comments against BJP MP Annamalai.

How did the BJP perform in Nagpur?

Nagpur is considered a stronghold of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS). The Sangh was founded in this city, and its headquarters have been located here for the past 100 years. Therefore, the BJP has always harbored hopes of victory here. The results of the municipal elections, which came out on Friday, seem to be fulfilling this hope for the BJP. According to the trends so far, the BJP alone is leading in 94 out of a total of 151 wards. Trends for only 129 seats have been released so far. Therefore, it is believed that the BJP could reach a century of seats on its own by the time the trends for all 151 seats are available. Meanwhile, the BJP's ally, Eknath Shinde's Shiv Sena, has so far secured a lead in only 2 seats.

This city is also important because Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis is from here, and Nitin Gadkari is also a Member of Parliament from this city. According to the trends so far, the NCP is leading in only 1 seat. Besides this, the Congress is in second place with a lead in 31 seats. However, the situation is such that no one is even remotely close to the BJP. Uddhav Thackeray's Shiv Sena has secured a lead in only one seat. The BJP also seems to be gaining a significant advantage in the BMC, and after decades, the Thackeray family's dominance over Mumbai's power will come to an end.

How did the BJP fare in Pune?

In the BMC, the BJP is leading in 65 seats, while Shinde's Shiv Sena is leading in 18. Uddhav Thackeray's Shiv Sena is leading in 52 seats, and the Congress has a lead in only 11 seats. Now, talking about Pune, the situation is similar to Nagpur. The BJP alliance has so far secured a lead in 47 seats, while Sharad Pawar and Ajit Pawar's NCP together are leading in only 15 seats. The Congress has managed to get a lead in only 4 seats. Uddhav Thackeray's Shiv Sena is leading in only one seat. It is worth noting that Ajit Pawar had parted ways with the alliance, claiming greater strength in Pune. The current trends are set to deliver a blow to the Pawar family.

What is the fate of the Thackeray dynasty?

Some analysts are linking the BJP alliance's significant victory in this election to the political future of the Thackeray family. In fact, this election result has dealt a blow to the Thackeray family in the very place where they began their political journey.

During the voting for the 227 seats of the BMC on Thursday, a survey was conducted to determine which parties received the most votes and which parties—Shiv Sena (Uddhav Thackeray), Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS), and NCP (Sharad Pawar)—garnered the most support. The results of this survey, when viewed in context, show that the politics of the Uddhav and Raj Thackeray families ultimately led to their downfall in their own stronghold.