Maharashtra Local Body Election Results: Mahayuti Clinches Majority, BJP Emerges Dominant

New Delhi: The BJP-led Mahayuti has emerged as the clear winner in the Maharashtra local body elections, securing control of a majority of municipal councils and nagar panchayats across the state. Final trends and declared results show the ruling alliance consolidating its position at the grassroots, leaving the opposition well behind in most regions.

The Bharatiya Janata Party led the charge, winning the highest number of seats on its own. Its allies, the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena and the Ajit Pawar faction of the Nationalist Congress Party, also delivered strong performances, helping the alliance comfortably cross the halfway mark in many local bodies.

Who dominated the results?

According to trends so far, the BJP has taken a clear lead with 127 seats in the elections to 246 municipal councils and 42 nagar panchayats in Maharashtra, while the Shiv Sena is ahead in 53 and the NCP in 32.

Together, the ruling Mahayuti alliance is leading in about 212 urban local bodies across the state. 

The BJP emerged as the single largest party in the elections, winning or leading in a substantial number of councils. The party’s organisational strength was visible on the ground, with candidates posting comfortable margins in several towns.

The Shinde-led Shiv Sena retained influence in key urban pockets, while Ajit Pawar’s NCP registered notable wins in select regions, adding to the Mahayuti’s overall tally.

Where did Mahayuti score big?

The ruling alliance performed strongly in western Maharashtra, parts of Vidarbha and north Maharashtra. In several councils, Mahayuti candidates won outright majorities, leaving little room for post-poll negotiations.

In a few traditional opposition strongholds, the alliance managed to break through, signalling a shift in local political equations.

What happened to the opposition?

The Opposition Maharashtra Vikas Aghadi (MVA), comprising Congress, Uddhav Thackeray’s Shiv Sena and Sharad Pawar’s NCP, is currently leading in 53 bodies, with Congress taking the lead in 36 seats, the Shiv Sena (UBT) in 9, and the Sharad Pawar-led NCP (SP) in 8.

The Maha Vikas Aghadi, comprising Congress, Uddhav Thackeray’s Shiv Sena and Sharad Pawar’s NCP, failed to convert the contest into a close fight. While the alliance picked up wins in a handful of councils, it struggled to keep pace with the ruling side in most areas.

What are winners saying?

Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis said the Mahayuti’s “success” in the municipal council and nagar panchayat polls was a team effort of the BJP organisation and the government.

“It is a team effort - organisation and government. We fought the polls on the development plank. I led the campaign on a positive development agenda, and never did I even once criticise any political leader or party,” he said.

Maharashtra Deputy CM Eknath Shinde during a press conference earlier today in Thane, "Results show the public’s preference for development over politics. The grand victory of the Mahayuti in the elections is just a trailer. The Mahayuti will repeat the same in the forthcoming municipal corporation elections."