MUMBAI, 16 FEBRUARY, 2025 (GPN): The elections to the richest civic body in the country, BMC, will be held in early 2025.The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) election is a pivotal civic poll in Mumbai, the financial capital of India. Established in 1882, the BMC manages a vast budget and oversees critical urban services such as infrastructure, public health, sanitation, and education. The elections are held every five years to elect 227 corporators, who play a significant role in shaping the city’s governance. The Shiv Sena under the Leadership of Late Hinduhridaysamrat Balasaheb Thackeray, in particular, has maintained a dominant position in Mumbai’s civic politics for decades.

The Maharashtra state government could come under pressure to hold the civic body elections with the state government announcing municipal elections, including the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation, after the Supreme Court order.

“The government cannot drag any further as it is a matter of implementation of Supreme Court guidelines. The government may approach the court stating that holding elections in March or April will clash with exams and cause hardship to students, and will hold the polls in May-June.

Supreme Court will now hold the next hearing on petitions related to civic elections. on February 25.

As the local body and municipal elections are fast approaching, NCP (SP) president Sharad Pawar had hinted earlier that his party may contest the upcoming Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections independently. Speaking to reporters in Mumbai, Pawar explained that the alliance was formed with a focus on national elections and that there had been no discussions regarding state or local elections.

Pawar’s comments come shortly after Shiv Sena (UBT) announced its decision to contest municipal elections in Mumbai, Thane, Nagpur, and other districts independently. Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Raut clarified the party’s stance, saying, “In an alliance, workers of individual parties don’t get opportunities, which hampers organisational growth. We will contest on our strength.” Raut also criticised the Congress party for failing to appoint a convenor for the INDIA bloc in Maharashtra. “As the largest party in the alliance, it was Congress’s responsibility to convene a meeting,” he stated.

The ruling government, Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister and Shiv Sena chief Eknath Shinde called upon party workers ‘Shiv Sainiks’ to work towards achieving a landslide victory in the upcoming local self-government elections and emphasised the importance of securing a win from the municipal corporation to the gram sabha level.

“We have to capture everything from the municipal corporation to the gram sabha. We have to win big in all local aa-government bodies,” Shinde said, exuding confidence in the party’s victory. Shinde expressed optimism that the party would secure a two hundred per cent victory and urged his party workers to tap into their inner strength.

“For a Shiv Sainik, nothing is impossible. We have twelve elephants in our wrist, and we can achieve anything,” Shinde said, instilling a sense of determination and resolve among the party workers.
Shinde called for unprecedented dedication and efforts from all party members, promising to work tirelessly for the people of Maharashtra. Addressing a gathering, Eknath Shinde said, “No party has won such a victory in history so far. Therefore, the responsibility on us has increased.”

He highlighted the importance of this milestone, urging his party members to ramp up their efforts. “From now on, we will have to work twice as fast, even four times. For this, we are ready to work  day and night,” he assured.

Shinde echoed a strong message of unity and determination, stating, “With the support of all of us, the saffron of Shiv Sena will continue to fly high.”

On the 99th birth anniversary of Balasaheb Thackeray, Eknath Shinde, the Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra and Shiv Sena chief, sharply criticised Uddhav Thackeray, accusing him of abandoning the founding leader’s principles for personal gain in politics.

“You left the thoughts of Balasaheb Thackeray in 2019 only for a CM chair. You trampled on Balasaheb’s thoughts, so you have no moral right to talk about the Balasaheb Thackeray memorial,” said Eknath Shinde.

Eknath Shinde was speaking at the ‘Shiv Utsav’ function organised by Shiv Sena at Bandra Kurla Complex on Thursday evening to mark the 99th birth anniversary of Balasaheb Thackeray.

Eknath Shinde, said, “I received the opportunity to serve the people of Maharashtra wholeheartedly for two and a half years. At the same time, the recognition I received as a beloved brother of 2.4 crore sisters in the state is greater than all positions.”

He further asserted, “Self-respect is more important to us than any chair.” Highlighting the influence of Balasaheb Thackeray, Shinde stated, “This self-respect has been taught by Balasaheb.”

He went on to criticise Uddhav Thackeray and said, “However, those who trampled on Balasaheb’s thoughts have no moral right to talk about the memorial.”

In a major development, sources claimed that Ajit Pawar’s Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) is likely to contest the upcoming Mumbai BMC elections alone. Meanwhile, the BJP and Eknath Shinde’s Shiv Sena are likely to contest the polls in coalition.

According to the sources, there are two main reasons for the decision. The first reason is that there are only 227 seats in BMC. Due to fewer seats, it is becoming difficult for the BJP and Shiv Sena to accommodate NCP (AP) in the alliance. Secondly, NCP (AP) has a very low support base in Mumbai. If it contests in the alliance, it will get fewer seats. Since Pawar wants to expand his party’s base in Mumbai, he is likely to contest alone.

Can Mahayuti End Uddhav Sena’s Long-Time Control Over BMC?

Maharashtra Deputy CM Eknath Shinde announced that his party, as part of the Mahayuti alliance, will contest the 2025 Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections together, emphasizing unity to transform Mumbai into India’s most developed municipal corporation. Highlighting Mahayuti’s success in the recent assembly elections, where they won 22 out of 36 seats in Mumbai, Shinde criticized Uddhav Thackeray’s Shiv Sena for failing to improve Mumbai’s infrastructure during its 25-year control of the BMC. Meanwhile, the Uddhav faction, part of the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA), is under pressure from party leaders to contest independently following the MVA’s poor performance in the assembly elections and calls to refocus on Hindutva. The BMC, with an annual budget of ₹74,427 crore, is a key political asset. While the Uddhav faction aims to retain control, the Mahayuti seeks to leverage its recent electoral momentum.