As the campaign for the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) halted at 5 pm on Tuesday, Mumbai stands on the brink of a historic showdown. Voters head to the polls on January 15, 2026, amidst a high-stakes battle between the Mahayuti alliance and the newly reunited Thackeray cousins.
The election has pivoted on a sharp “Marathi vs non-Marathi” narrative, intensified by K Annamalai’s controversial remark that Mumbai is a “global city” rather than just Maharashtra’s, sparking a fierce row over the city’s identity.
Identity politics reached a flashpoint with the “Khan Vs Marathi Hindu Mayor” debate. While the BJP’s Mumbai President Ameet Satam vowed to block any “Khan” from the mayoral seat, CM Devendra Fadnavis reinforced that the next Mayor will be “Hindu and Marathi.” Compounding this, the Mahayuti manifesto has taken a hardline stance, promising the ouster of illegal Rohingyas and Bangladeshis from the city.
The ground-level contest is equally fierce. Direct face-offs between Sena (UBT) and Shinde’s Shiv Sena in 69 seats will decide the true claimant of the Sena legacy. Meanwhile, the Sena (UBT) battles the BJP in 97 seats, and the Congress takes on the BJP in 88. Smaller but vital skirmishes include Shinde’s Sena facing MNS in 18 seats and Congress in 53. While BJP – MNS face off could be witnessed in nearly 35 seats.
Welfare schemes have also entered a legal cloud; where the Congress has lodged a formal complaint against the disbursement of “Ladki Behen” funds just before voting day, calling it a code of conduct violation. To woo women, Thackeray’s manifesto has countered with a promised 50% waiver on BEST bus fares and 5 lakhs rupees loan for small businesses without interest.
With the silence period now in effect, the city waits to see if development or identity politics will ultimately sway the ballot.
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