Maharashtra local body polls: Power struggle continues in majority of 29 corporations

Mumbai: It is nearly a fortnight since the elections to 29 municipal corporations were held, however, not even a single Mayor has been installed because of fractured mandate, intense power struggle, compulsions of alliance and switching of ideologies besides reports of poaching of corporators and horse-trading. 

On the other hand, the leaders of the political parties are now concentrating on the 5 February 2026 elections to 12 zilla parishads and 125 panchayat samitis.

The municipal corporation elections were held on 15 January 2026 and counting was taken up the next day. 

On 22 January, the process of lottery draws on reservations for the post of Mayors were completed. 

In the financial capital Mumbai, it may take another week to 10 days to get the new Mayor of the BrihanMumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), who would be a woman from the General category.

For the BMC, the BJP and its ally Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena - where then two parties together have clear majority — are engaged in intense negotiations, however, it is being held in the backdrop of the results and power-sharing in the Thane Municipal Corporation (TMC), Kalyan-Dombivli Municipal Corporation (KDMC) and Ulhasnagar Municipal Corporation (UMC) — all located in the Mumbai metropolitan region (MMR). 

Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis, who calls the shots for the BJP, was away in the Swiss sky-resort town of Davos for  World Economic Forum  and once back was tied up in the Republic Day festivities. 

Fadnavis and his deputy Shinde will hold a series of meetings to decide on MMR first. As far as Navi Mumbai - where Shinde is at loggerheads with state Forest Minister Ganesh Naik — is concerned, BJP will have its Mayor for a full term. In the neighbouring Panvel Municipal Corporation (PMC), the BJP has a clear majority. 

For Mumbai, a section of Shiv Sena leaders want the top post as rotational as first for the Shinde-led party as a mark of respect for birth centenary of Balasaheb Thackeray, however, the BJP has refused to part with Mayorship, a post that it would occupy for second time. 

In Thane, the BJP has suggested a full term for Shiv Sena and power sharing agreements for Kalyan-Dombivli and Ulhasnagar. 

However, in the Bhiwandi Nizampur Municipal Corporation (BNMC) there is intense power struggle - and around a week ago there were clashes between BJP workers and activists of former mayor and Konark Vikas Aghadi’s Vilas Patil, who has emerged as a kingmaker. 

In Vasai Virar City Municipal Corporation (VVCMC), the Hitendra Thakur-led Bahujan Vikas Aghadi has won a majority and will have its Mayor while BJP will sit in opposition.

If one goes beyond Mumbai, in Nagpur, the hometown of Fadnavis, the BJP has a clear majority.  

However, in neighbouring Chandrapur, there is massive struggle between Congress and BJP as to who will take control.