BJP-Shiv Sena Alliance Clinches Historic Victory Over Thackeray Bastion in BMC Elections

The BJP and Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena alliance achieved a decisive victory in the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation elections, securing 118 of the 227 seats, breaching the Thackeray family's stronghold. The election was marked by delayed counting and significant upsets, with several prominent candidates losing their races.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena have triumphed in the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections, overtaking the Thackerays with 118 seats out of 227. The BJP secured 89 seats, while Shinde's Shiv Sena won 29, surpassing the 114-seat majority needed to dominate the civic body.

Meanwhile, the Shiv Sena (UBT)-MNS-NCP (SP) alliance was able to gather 72 seats. The undivided Shiv Sena, having governed the civic body for 25 years since 1997, now finds itself in stark contrast to the 2017 elections where the undivided party had topped the charts with 84 seats.

This election saw delayed counting due to faulty EVMs and recount demands. Notable losses included heavyweight corporators, while new faces such as BJP's Navnath Ban and Shiv Sena (UBT)'s Kiran Tawade emerged victorious. The BMC remains a pivotal administrative power with an annual budget surpassing Rs 74,400 crore.

(With inputs from agencies.)