<p>Mumbai: Uddhav and Raj Thackeray's grand political reunion has had a ripple effect across Maharashtra's political landscape. However, the focus now turns towards the upcoming elections for the BrihanMumbai Municipal Corporation or the BMC, which is eagerly awaited by everyone.</p><p>The coming together of the Thackeray cousins and the possibility of an electoral alliance will surely change the political landscape of Mumbai.</p>.'Rudali' speech: Fadnavis takes sharp swipe at Uddhav.<p>For more than quarter of a century, Balasaheb Thackeray-founded Shiv Sena had been controlling the BMC. In fact, the Shiv Sena has been ruling the civic body since 1985 except for a period between 1992-1996.</p><p>The last five-year term of the BMC - elected in 2017 ended on 7 March, 2022 - and there is no general body - the BMC’s Municipal Commissioner acts as a state government-appointed administrator. </p><p>For the Thackerays, the BMC is a kind of live wire. </p> .<p>The show of strength of the cousins comes at a time when the Shiv Sena (UBT) and MNS are going through an existential crisis after their worst-ever performance in the 2024 Vidhan Sabha polls.</p><p>While post the Supreme Court directive, the State Election Commission (SEC) has not yet announced the poll schedule, however, there are indications that the local bodies elections of Maharashtra would be held after Diwali festivities. </p><p>The development has created a flutter within the ruling BJP-led Maha Yuti as well as the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA). While Uddhav is part of the MVA, Raj has close ties with Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, the BJP’s troubleshooter in the state. </p><p>Having supported Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the Lok Sabha polls of 2024, Raj took an independent stand in the Vidhan Sabha polls. </p> .<p>To have a mayor in the BMC is a dream that remains unfulfilled for the BJP, which is now pursuing the “triple-engine sarkar” politics. </p><p>This year, the BMC presented a whopping Rs 74,427 crore budget for the financial year 2025-26. The total BMC reserves stand at Rs 81,744.42 crore. Such financials are bigger than that of some small states in India. </p><p>For Uddhav retaining BMC is a major task, however, he would face a massive challenge from the BJP and its allies Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena and Ajit Pawar-led NCP. </p><p>Besides, Thackeray who had earlier decided to go alone and there would not be any trick with the MVA allies Congress and Sharad Pawar-led NCP (SP) in Mumbai. </p><p>In case, the Raj-Uddhav political alliance takes shape, the polls will be fiercely contested. </p> .<p><strong>Infographics </strong></p><ul><li><p>The BMC covers two districts of Mumbai City and Mumbai Suburban - which has six Lok Sabha seats and 36 Vidhan Sabha seats. </p></li><li><p>The BMC has been divided into seven zones which have 3 to 5 wards each. In total, Mumbai has been divided into 24 administrative wards which are further divided into 227 civic electoral wards or constituencies. </p></li><li><p>In the Lok Sabha elections, of the six seats, the MVA-INDIA opposition bloc won four seats (Congress - 1, Shiv Sena (UBT) - 3) while the MahaYuti-NDA managed two seats (BJP 1, Shiv Sena -1). </p></li><li><p>In the Assembly polls, BJP-led MahaYuti got a stronghold over Mumbai, winning 22 of the 36 seats. For MahaYuti, the BJP won 15 seats, Shiv Sena six and NCP one. As far as Maha Vikas Aghadi is concerned, Shiv Sena (UBT) won 10 seats and the Congress three, Samajwadi Party (SP) secured one win. </p></li><li><p>After the 2017 BMC polls, the Shiv Sena leads the tally with 84, followed by BJP (82), Congress (31), NCP (9), MNS (7) and others (14). The difference between the undivided Shiv Sena and BJP was just two seats in the last elections - but the Sena split has changed equations. </p></li><li><p>In the 2012 polls, Shiv Sena won 75 seats followed by BJP (31), Congress (52), NCP (7), MNS (27), SP (9) and others (32). </p></li></ul>
<p>Mumbai: Uddhav and Raj Thackeray's grand political reunion has had a ripple effect across Maharashtra's political landscape. However, the focus now turns towards the upcoming elections for the BrihanMumbai Municipal Corporation or the BMC, which is eagerly awaited by everyone.</p><p>The coming together of the Thackeray cousins and the possibility of an electoral alliance will surely change the political landscape of Mumbai.</p>.'Rudali' speech: Fadnavis takes sharp swipe at Uddhav.<p>For more than quarter of a century, Balasaheb Thackeray-founded Shiv Sena had been controlling the BMC. In fact, the Shiv Sena has been ruling the civic body since 1985 except for a period between 1992-1996.</p><p>The last five-year term of the BMC - elected in 2017 ended on 7 March, 2022 - and there is no general body - the BMC’s Municipal Commissioner acts as a state government-appointed administrator. </p><p>For the Thackerays, the BMC is a kind of live wire. </p> .<p>The show of strength of the cousins comes at a time when the Shiv Sena (UBT) and MNS are going through an existential crisis after their worst-ever performance in the 2024 Vidhan Sabha polls.</p><p>While post the Supreme Court directive, the State Election Commission (SEC) has not yet announced the poll schedule, however, there are indications that the local bodies elections of Maharashtra would be held after Diwali festivities. </p><p>The development has created a flutter within the ruling BJP-led Maha Yuti as well as the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA). While Uddhav is part of the MVA, Raj has close ties with Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, the BJP’s troubleshooter in the state. </p><p>Having supported Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the Lok Sabha polls of 2024, Raj took an independent stand in the Vidhan Sabha polls. </p> .<p>To have a mayor in the BMC is a dream that remains unfulfilled for the BJP, which is now pursuing the “triple-engine sarkar” politics. </p><p>This year, the BMC presented a whopping Rs 74,427 crore budget for the financial year 2025-26. The total BMC reserves stand at Rs 81,744.42 crore. Such financials are bigger than that of some small states in India. </p><p>For Uddhav retaining BMC is a major task, however, he would face a massive challenge from the BJP and its allies Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena and Ajit Pawar-led NCP. </p><p>Besides, Thackeray who had earlier decided to go alone and there would not be any trick with the MVA allies Congress and Sharad Pawar-led NCP (SP) in Mumbai. </p><p>In case, the Raj-Uddhav political alliance takes shape, the polls will be fiercely contested. </p> .<p><strong>Infographics </strong></p><ul><li><p>The BMC covers two districts of Mumbai City and Mumbai Suburban - which has six Lok Sabha seats and 36 Vidhan Sabha seats. </p></li><li><p>The BMC has been divided into seven zones which have 3 to 5 wards each. In total, Mumbai has been divided into 24 administrative wards which are further divided into 227 civic electoral wards or constituencies. </p></li><li><p>In the Lok Sabha elections, of the six seats, the MVA-INDIA opposition bloc won four seats (Congress - 1, Shiv Sena (UBT) - 3) while the MahaYuti-NDA managed two seats (BJP 1, Shiv Sena -1). </p></li><li><p>In the Assembly polls, BJP-led MahaYuti got a stronghold over Mumbai, winning 22 of the 36 seats. For MahaYuti, the BJP won 15 seats, Shiv Sena six and NCP one. As far as Maha Vikas Aghadi is concerned, Shiv Sena (UBT) won 10 seats and the Congress three, Samajwadi Party (SP) secured one win. </p></li><li><p>After the 2017 BMC polls, the Shiv Sena leads the tally with 84, followed by BJP (82), Congress (31), NCP (9), MNS (7) and others (14). The difference between the undivided Shiv Sena and BJP was just two seats in the last elections - but the Sena split has changed equations. </p></li><li><p>In the 2012 polls, Shiv Sena won 75 seats followed by BJP (31), Congress (52), NCP (7), MNS (27), SP (9) and others (32). </p></li></ul>