BMC election results declared, BJP becomes the largest party, Mahayuti gets clear majority (Photo- Jagran)
Digital Desk, New Delhi. The election results of 227 wards of Mumbai's Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) have been fully declared. BJP has the biggest victory in these elections.
It has created history by emerging as a party, while the Mahayuti alliance (BJP + Eknath Shinde faction's Shiv Sena) has secured a clear majority.
Party-wise seats (total 227 wards):
Mahayuti gains control over BMC
Mahayuti, an alliance of BJP and Shiv Sena (Shinde faction), won a total of 118 wards, much more than the majority mark of 114. With this, Mahayuti has gained control over BMC. This is believed to be the end of the Thackeray family's dominance that has lasted for almost three decades, as previously undivided Shiv Sena had held the BMC for a long time.
AIMIM captured 8 wards and MNS captured 6 wards.
Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT) remains the second largest force in the opposition with 65 seats. Congress won 24 wards, while AIMIM won 8 and MNS 6. Smaller parties like NCP, SP and NCP (SP) won 3, 2 and 1 seats respectively.
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis called this victory a victory for PM Narendra Modi's leadership and development policies. He said that the people of Mumbai have expressed confidence in the Mahayuti and now the city will be taken to new heights.
Uddhav Thackeray group said- we gave a tough fight
The Uddhav Thackeray faction said it fought hard and performed strongly in several key constituencies, although it missed the majority.
BMC is the richest municipality in the country
These elections were held for the first time after the split of Shiv Sena in 2022 and were considered very important politically. BMC is the richest municipality in the country, with a budget of over Rs 74,000 crore. Now all eyes are on the selection of the new Mayor and the Standing Committee, where the Mahayuti will have complete control.
Mumbai chose development, voted against people who were in power for 25 years: Shinde
Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Friday took a dig at Thackeray brothers Raj and Uddhav, saying the people of Mumbai have voted against those who have been in power for 25 years and have chosen a "brand of development".
Speaking to reporters here, Shinde said that most of the 29 municipal corporations where elections were held on January 15 will have mayors from the BJP-led Mahayuti alliance.
Taking aim at the Thackeray family, Shiv Sena chief Shinde said that our agenda was development. Some people contested the elections on emotional issues. He further said, "People chose the brand of development and voted against those who were in power for 25 years."
The Uddhav Thackeray-led united Shiv Sena controlled India's largest and wealthiest civic body, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) for 25 years - from 1997 to 2022.
Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray and his cousin, Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) president Raj, who came together after 20 years ahead of the elections, had tried to sell the "Thackeray brand" to voters and project themselves as protectors of Marathi "asmita" (pride).