BMC election results 2026: BJP to decide who will be mayor of Mumbai; contested 137 seats compared to 227 in 2017

MUMBAI: For the first time ever, the BJP will decide who will be Mumbai's mayor. Though a ceremonial post, its political symbolism cannot be underestimated.

CM Devendra Fadnavis has consistently maintained that the mayor will be from the Mahayuti and a Hindu. Speaker Rahul Narwekar said late evening on Friday that the mayor would be from the BJP.


The mayor conducts the BMC general body meetings every month. Winning the mayor's post ensures the party will get the chairman's post in statutory committees like the powerful Standing Committee where all financial decisions are taken, the Improvements Committee which is the custodian of civic land and the Education Committee. The BMC runs over 1100 schools in the city.

Fadnavis led celebrations outside the BJP headquarters on Friday evening when results began to indicate a majority for the party and its allies in 25 of 29 municipal corporations. However, a few hours later, it became clear that the party did not perform as well as it had anticipated in the BMC elections.

In fact, its tally went up by single digits from what it was in 2017. However, Ashish Shelar, who was election incharge for the BMC polls, explained in a statement, "BJP, despite contesting fewer seats than the combined total of the UBT faction and the MNS, secured victories in more seats than both parties put together."

BJP contested 137 seats this time against 227 in 2017 and secured 89 as against 82 in 2017. Shelar said it reflected a clear mandate by the people of Mumbai in favour of development. "Dear Mumbaikars, we humbly accept the blessings and trust you bestowed upon the BJP and the Mahayuti. You gave us a new opportunity to serve you."

Observers said the singledigit rise in BJP's tally could be attributed to a mixed response from the Marathi Manoos to its outreach. Several veteran corporators contesting for BJP and Shiv Sena lost including many who left other parties to join Sena. Some observers said city BJP leaders may need to introspect on their decision to focus on highlighting alleged Bangladeshi-Rohingya infiltration and playing the communal card but not clearly addressing the issue of Marathi ‘asmita’ as raised by the Opposition.

A senior BJP leader told TOI, "We should've been speaking more on civic issues; instead, we kept harping on security."