The BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) surged to a decisive victory in Maharashtra’s civic elections on Friday, clinching control of Mumbai’s powerful municipal body and registering dominant performances across the state.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi hailed the mandate, describing Mumbai as “the pride of our nation” and “a city of aspiration” that drives India’s growth. Thanking voters for backing the NDA, he said the alliance would deliver good governance and improve the “Ease of Living” for residents, drawing inspiration from Maharashtra’s vibrant culture.
In Mumbai, the Bharatiya Janata Party and its Maha Yuti allies crossed the halfway mark in the 227-member Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation, paving the way for the alliance to install its mayor. The BJP emerged as the single largest party with 89 seats, while the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena won 29. The outcome ends decades of dominance by the Thackeray family in India’s richest urban corporation.
Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis credited the BJP-led Mahayuti’s sweeping performance in the state’s municipal elections to its development agenda saying Hindutva and development were inseparable for the party.
The Opposition put up a mixed showing. Shiv Sena (UBT) secured 65 seats, the Congress won 24 in alliance with the Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi, while other parties including the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) and the Nationalist Congress Party picked up smaller tallies.
The NDA’s momentum extended beyond Mumbai. In the Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar Municipal Corporation, the BJP won 57 of the 115 seats, emerging well ahead of AIMIM, which finished second with 33. Although the BJP and the Shinde-led Shiv Sena contested separately in several centres, their combined performance underscored the alliance’s statewide strength.
Overall, the BJP and its allies were on course to win 24 of Maharashtra’s 29 municipal corporations, marking a significant expansion from the 2015 civic polls. Party leaders said the results reflected voter approval of the NDA’s development agenda, with Mr Modi declaring, “Thank you, Maharashtra,” as he credited the alliance’s record for striking a chord with the electorate.
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