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...

Mumbai: The much-anticipated results of the Mumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections have been declared, and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has emerged as the single largest party. The outcome comes as a major setback for Uddhav Thackeray’s Shiv Sena (UBT), which has ruled Mumbai for decades. BJP MLA Nitesh Rane did not hold back in criticizing Thackeray following the defeat. BJP’s Resounding Victory Sends Shockwaves to ‘Matoshree’The BJP strengthened its position across several Mumbai wards, defeating candidates of the Maha Vikas Aghadi. Political analysts expressed surprise at the party’s success in Marathi-dominated areas. The results clearly indicate BJP’s growing dominance in the city. Nitesh Rane Launches Scathing AttackSpeaking to the media, Nitesh Rane targeted Uddhav T...

Mumbai: Shiv Sena MP Ravindra Waikar has faced another major setback in the Mumbai BMC elections, just two years after making headlines by winning a Lok Sabha seat by a razor-thin margin of 48 votes. Waikar, once a close aide of Uddhav Thackeray, now sees his daughter Diipti Waikar Potnis defeated in a high-stakes civic poll, marking a second consecutive electoral blow to his family. From Narrow Lok Sabha Victory to Civic Defeat Ravindra Waikar had gained nationwide attention during the 2024 Lok Sabha elections when he won against Amol Kirtikar, son of longtime Thackeray loyalist Gajanand Kirtikar, by just 48 votes, after campaigning for only 13 days. Despite staying loyal to Thackeray during the Eknath Shinde rebellion, Waikar later contested on a Shinde faction ticket, severing tie...

Mumbai:In a major political upset in the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections 2026, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has wrested control of a long-standing Shiv Sena (Uddhav Thackeray faction) bastion in North Mumbai, marking the end of over 20 years of Sena dominance in the area. The result is being seen as one of the most surprising outcomes of this fiercely contested civic election. The biggest shock came from Ward No. 19, which had remained firmly under Shiv Sena control for two decades. Defying expectations, BJP candidate Diksha Kavatankar defeated the Shiv Sena (Thackeray group) nominee Leena Subhash Gudhekar, a member of a family that has traditionally enjoyed strong voter loyalty in the ward. A Crumbling Bastion Ward No. 19 was widely considered an exception ...