- By Raju Kumar
- Fri, 16 Jan 2026 08:31 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
BMC Elections Results 2026: The Shiv Sena (UBT) has lost control of Mumbai's richest municipal corporation, the BMC, but this hasn't ended Uddhav Thackeray's political career. By winning 74 seats in the BMC elections so far, the Shiv Sena (UBT) has demonstrated that it remains the face of Marathi-speaking politics in Mumbai. Despite a strong challenge from the BJP and the efforts of Eknath Shinde, Thackeray has maintained his relevance.
Eknath Shinde may have made inroads in some areas of Mumbai, but this hasn't weakened the Thackeray family's hold. The Shiv Sena (UBT) continues to emerge as a major force on the Marathi-speaking side. Meanwhile, Thackeray's ally, the Congress, decided to contest the elections alone, giving the Thackeray faction an opportunity to strengthen its traditional vote bank.
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Marathi Voters Back Thackeray
Marathi voters in areas considered Shiv Sena strongholds expressed confidence in Uddhav Thackeray. The results clearly showed that Shiv Sena (UBT) performed respectably and the party was not completely marginalized.
Impact Of The BMC Defeat
Losing control of the BMC is a major blow to Shiv Sena (UBT). Since the party's inception, the BMC has been its biggest strength and center of power. Shiv Sena has always maintained that the foundation of its alliance is the foundation of its hold on the BMC.
Although Shinde may have taken a considerable number of councilors with him, in this election, Thackeray proved that he still holds the Bal Thackeray legacy in Mumbai. This legacy remains a significant figure in Mumbai politics. The results also showed that the Shinde faction's Shiv Sena did not win more seats than Shiv Sena (UBT). This has strengthened Thackeray's position.
Following the weak performance of the Congress, Thackeray is able to present himself as the main face of the opposition in Mumbai. Now, Shiv Sena (UBT) has emerged as the largest party in the opposition.
These results seem to set up a direct contest between the BJP and the Shiv Sena (UBT) in Mumbai. The Shiv Sena (UBT) claims to practice a more inclusive Hindutva politics than the BJP, while accusing the BJP of "hardline Hindutva."
Impact On Raj Thackeray's MNS
Raj Thackeray's MNS currently remains a party with limited influence. Consequently, the biggest challenge facing Uddhav Thackeray is expanding his party. Previously, through campaigns like "Me Mumbaikar," Uddhav Thackeray has demonstrated that the Shiv Sena can expand beyond its traditional vote bank in Mumbai.
Potential For Expansion
With the weakening of the Congress, Uddhav Thackeray has the opportunity to expand his support base. The Muslim vote could play a key role in this. This strategy could determine the direction of Shiv Sena (UBT) politics in the future.