Decoding Mumbai BMC election 2026: MNS helped consolidate Marathi votes but also proved polarising; what worked against the Thackerays | Mumbai News

MUMBAI: The 2026 civic elections in Mumbai were held in a vastly altered political landscape, shaped primarily by the 2022 split in the Shiv Sena. With Eknath Shinde retaining the party’s name and symbol, the electoral balance shifted decisively, leaving the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT) significantly weakened.The Sena (UBT) entered the polls short of resources and organisational strength, facing a formidable BJP–Shinde Sena alliance that controlled power at both the Centre and the state.The contrast with the 2017 election was striking. Then, the undivided Shiv Sena had emerged as the single largest party with 84 seats, narrowly ahead of the BJP’s 82 in the 227-member Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC). With post-poll support from six Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) corporators and independents, the Sena’s tally rose to 102, enabling it to retain the mayor’s post until the civic body was dissolved.By 2026, however, the Sena (UBT) had slipped to around 65 seats. The setback was not only numerical. Several of its traditional strongholds in central Mumbai, the island city and parts of the eastern suburbs no longer voted instinctively for the Thackeray banner. High-profile defections, including that of Tejasvee Ghosalkar ahead of the polls, highlighted the party’s organisational drift.What worked against the ThackeraysFor the Sena (UBT), an emphasis on nativist politics appears to have limited its appeal beyond the core Marathi voter base, alienating other communities, including Muslims and North Indians.Its alliance with the MNS helped consolidate Marathi votes in some areas but also proved polarising. Raj Thackeray’s party was widely seen as a fringe force rather than a serious contender, with critics pointing to his shifting political positions.The 2022 split continued to weigh heavily on the Sena (UBT), depriving it of a large section of its traditional foot soldiers. The party also faced constraints in funding and manpower while competing against an alliance in control of both state and central governments.Decoding the verdict: Why Mahayuti gained groundThe BJP-led Mahayuti alliance appears to have benefited from a combination of political alignment, infrastructure delivery and organisational strength.One of the BJP’s key pitches was the “triple engine sarker” — governance led by the same party at the Centre, state and civic levels. The argument, party leaders said, was that policy alignment would reduce friction and speed up development.Large-scale infrastructure projects also featured prominently in the campaign. The Metro network, Coastal Road, Navi Mumbai Airport, Atal Setu and other projects were presented as proof of improved connectivity and civic life.The BJP–Shinde Sena combine also sought to broaden its voter base beyond the traditional Marathi constituency, appealing to north and south Indians, Gujaratis, Marwaris and the Marathi middle class. The alliance’s access to funding and an extensive cadre of party workers further strengthened its campaign.Key numbers and facts