Politics

Mumbai: Following the results of the Mumbai BMC elections, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut reacted to the defeat of the Shivshakti alliance of Shiv Sena UBT and MNS. Speaking on Saturday, Raut said that several seats were lost by very narrow margins. “If 12-13 of these close contests had gone in our favor, the picture you see in Mumbai today would have been entirely different,” he remarked. Raut highlighted that even after the results, the BJP-Shinde faction holds only a four-member majority in the BMC. He emphasized that the opposition remains a significant force in the municipal body. “We will not allow Mumbai to fall into Adani’s pocket or let contractors take over. Over 100 of our corporators will block any such moves at every step,” he added. Comments on Internal BetrayalRaut...

Mumbai, January 17, 2026: Maharashtra’s civic and BMC elections have signaled a significant shift in the state’s political landscape, breaking the long-standing dominance of political families like the Thackerays and Pawars. Historically, parties in the state relied heavily on the personal clout of leaders such as Bal Thackeray, Uddhav Thackeray, Sharad Pawar, and Ajit Pawar, whose names alone guaranteed electoral success in different regions. However, the latest results reveal that BJP’s strategic campaigns have significantly weakened this traditional political advantage. Thackeray Brand Loses Its ShineThe Thackeray family, which had controlled the BMC for 25 years through a strong network strategy, faced a historic setback. Despite efforts by Uddhav and Raj Thackeray, Shiv Sena’s trad...

Amravati, January 17, 2026: While the nation celebrates BJP’s sweeping victory in Mumbai, it is Navneet Rana—who left her husband’s party in 2024 to join BJP—who has made headlines in Amravati. Despite losing the 2024 Lok Sabha election herself, she successfully turned the tide for BJP in the Amravati Municipal Corporation elections and elevated her husband Ravi Rana to the position of ‘kingmaker’. In the Amravati Lok Sabha constituency, Congress candidate Balwant Wankhede had defeated Navneet Rana. Yet, with her characteristic bold style, Navneet took charge of BJP’s campaign in the city. Her efforts paid off handsomely, with BJP emerging as the single largest party, winning 25 of the 87 seats. Ravi Rana’s party, meanwhile, secured 10 seats, cementing his influence in local politics. ...

Mumbai, Maharashtra: Following the announcement of the results of the 29 municipal corporation elections in Maharashtra, including the high-stakes Mumbai BMC polls, Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray has issued his first public reaction. Describing the Mumbai BMC election as challenging, Raj Thackeray once again invoked the Marathi identity card, stating that the struggle is for the very existence of the Marathi community. “These battles are long-term. We will analyze, act, and ensure that justice is served where it is due,” he wrote. The statement comes in the wake of Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut’s sharp criticism of Eknath Shinde, whom he called ‘Jaychand,’ following the BJP-Shinde alliance’s success in Mumbai. Despite expectations that the MNS would make si...

In a historic shift, the BJP emerged as the largest party in the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections on Friday, ending nearly three decades of Shiv Sena dominance. The party also secured victory in Pune, with the BJP-led alliance projected to win approximately 125 of the 227 BMC seats. The BMC, India’s wealthiest municipal body, has a budget of ₹74,427 crore for 2025-26. High-Profile Defeats:Much like in the recent Lok Sabha and Assembly elections, several political heavyweights lost in the BMC polls. Veteran civic leader Ravi Raja, who had served as a municipal councillor for 25 consecutive years, lost his first BMC election from Ward 185. BJP’s Vinod Mishra, contesting from Ward 43, also faced defeat in his second attempt. Rajul Patel of Shinde Sena, a four-time council...

Nagpur: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has scored a resounding victory in the Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) Election 2026, reaffirming its political dominance in the city. As vote counting concluded on Friday night, the BJP crossed the majority mark with ease, winning 102 seats in the 151-member civic body. The Congress emerged as a distant second, securing 34 seats, while other parties failed to make a significant impact. Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT), Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena, Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), and the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) managed to win one seat each, whereas 10 seats went to independent and other candidates. The results mark yet another emphatic mandate for the BJP, which has been in control of the Nagpur Municipal Corporation continuously si...