Maharashtra Civic Elections 2026 results: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena alliance has emerged as the clear frontrunner in the Maharashtra civic elections, according to early trends released on Friday. The Mahayuti alliance has taken a commanding lead across key urban civic bodies, including Mumbai, Pune, and Thane, pushing the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) far behind.
In Mumbai’s Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), preliminary data indicates that the BJP–Shinde Sena alliance is leading in 118 wards. In comparison, the MVA is trailing with leads in 78 wards. The BJP alone is ahead in 86 wards, while Shinde’s Shiv Sena is leading in 31 wards, reflecting a strong consolidation of votes in the country’s financial capital.
The Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT) has struggled to gain momentum. Early trends show the UBT faction leading in 58 wards, while its ally Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) is ahead in just nine wards. The Nationalist Congress Party (Sharad Pawar faction) has managed to secure a lead in only one ward, underlining the fractured performance of the opposition alliance.
The Congress party continues to face electoral setbacks in Maharashtra’s urban politics, leading in only 10 wards in Mumbai. The results so far highlight the party’s shrinking footprint in municipal elections, despite its long-standing presence in the city’s civic history.
According to the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation, UBT candidate Foram Parmar is trailing in Ward 1, while party candidate Gita Bhandari is leading in Ward 32. Shinde Sena’s Varsha Tembelkar is ahead in Ward 51. In the BJP camp, candidates Deepak Tavde, Ujjwal Veti, and Neil Somaiya are leading in their respective wards. Congress candidate Asha Deepak Kale has secured a win in Ward 183 in Mumbai’s Dharavi area.
In the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC), the BJP has significantly strengthened its position by displacing the Pawars’ traditional influence. Out of 165 wards, the BJP is leading in around 50 seats. The two factions of the NCP together trail far behind, while the Congress–UBT alliance has managed leads in only a limited number of wards.
From Ward No. 20 in the Shankar Maharaj Math–Bibewadi area of Pune, BJP candidates Rajendra Shilimkar, Tanvi Divekar, and Mansi Deshpande were elected. NCP’s Gaurav Ghule also emerged victorious from the ward, defeating BJP candidate Mahendra Sundecha.
In the Thane Municipal Corporation, considered Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde’s home turf, the BJP is leading in 21 of the 131 wards. The NCP is ahead in six wards, while the UBT–MNS–NCP (SP) alliance has also secured leads in six wards, indicating a divided opposition vote.
The State Election Commission reported a voter turnout of 52.94 percent across Mumbai. The elections were conducted after a gap of eight years, making them one of the most closely watched civic exercises in Maharashtra. The previous BMC elections were held in 2017, and the term of the last elected mayor, Kishori Pednekar, ended in March 2022.
With the completion of polling, Mumbai is set to get a new mayor after nearly four years, marking a major political reset in the city’s civic administration. While the elections were marred by allegations from the Shiv Sena (UBT)–MNS alliance, the State Election Commission firmly denied the claims and maintained that the polling process was fair and transparent.
Early trends from Mumbai, Pune, and Thane suggest a decisive advantage for the BJP–Shinde Sena alliance, reinforcing its growing dominance in Maharashtra’s urban civic politics. For the opposition, particularly the Congress and the Thackeray-led Sena, the results indicate the need for urgent introspection and strategic realignment ahead of upcoming state and national elections.