BJP and Shiv Sena Dominate Maharashtra Civic Elections

The ruling Mahayuti alliance strengthened its position in Maharashtra’s civic landscape with a commanding performance in local body elections held on Friday. The BJP and Shiv Sena, two key pillars of the coalition government, together won 11 unopposed seats across multiple municipal corporations, signaling strong momentum ahead of the crucial BMC 2026 elections.

BJP’s Strong Show in Bhiwandi-Nizampur

The Bharatiya Janata Party achieved a decisive victory in the Bhiwandi-Nizampur Municipal Corporation (BNMC), where six candidates were declared winners unopposed after scrutiny of nomination papers for the January 15 elections. The successful BJP nominees include Paresh Chandrakant Chowgule, Sumit Purushottam Patil, Ashwini Sunny Futankar, Deepa Deepak Madhvi, Abushah Lallan Sheikh, and Bharti Hanuman Chaudhary. According to BJP’s Bhiwandi city unit chief Harshal Patil, these unopposed victories represent a significant breakthrough for the party in the region.

Shiv Sena’s Victory in Thane Corporation

Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde’s Shiv Sena demonstrated equal strength by securing five unopposed seats in the 131-member Thane Municipal Corporation. The winning candidates—Jaishree Phatak, Sukhada More, Ram Repale, Ekta Bhoir, and Shital Dhamale—were elected unopposed from wards in the Wagle Estate region. Notably, Jaishree Phatak is the wife of former MLC Ravi Phatak, a close associate of Deputy Chief Minister Shinde, while Sukhada More is the wife of the state secretary of Shiv Sena and a former Thane mayor.

These unopposed wins provide the Mahayuti alliance a commanding advantage in key civic bodies, positioning both parties favorably for the upcoming BMC elections scheduled in 2026.