Mumbai :-
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is setting its sights on expanding its footprint in the upcoming Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections, and is seriously considering contesting the polls alone. This strategic shift comes after an internal survey reportedly showed that the party could still emerge as the dominant force, even if political rivals Uddhav Thackeray and Raj Thackeray were to join hands.
Senior BJP leaders have begun weighing the pros and cons of going solo in the civic body elections, emboldened by internal data that indicates limited impact from a potential Thackeray alliance. With changing political equations, especially after the Shiv Sena split and shifting loyalties in the Maha Vikas Aghadi and Mahayuti alliances, the BJP sees an opportunity to cement its control over Mumbai’s powerful municipal system.
Back in the 2017 BMC elections, the undivided Shiv Sena narrowly edged out the BJP, securing 84 seats against the latter’s 82. At the time, both parties were part of the ruling alliance in the state but had fought the civic polls independently. Fast-forward to today, the Shiv Sena has split into factions led by Eknath Shinde and Uddhav Thackeray, while the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) has also undergone a split between Ajit Pawar and Sharad Pawar.
These realignments have completely reshaped the political terrain. Within the BJP, many believe that these fractures within opposition parties present a unique moment to dominate the BMC landscape by contesting over 150 of the 227 total seats on offer.
The BMC elections are expected to be held around October or November 2025, following the Supreme Court’s directive to conduct pending local body polls in Maharashtra. The civic body—widely regarded as the richest municipal corporation in Asia—has an annual budget larger than that of many Indian states, making control over it a high-stakes political prize.
Party insiders say that while BJP remains a part of the Mahayuti coalition at the state level with Eknath Shinde’s Shiv Sena and Ajit Pawar’s NCP, the civic elections offer a different battleground—one where local dynamics and grassroots strength matter more than coalition arithmetic. BJP’s internal survey suggests that Mumbai’s middle class, business community, and young voters continue to gravitate towards its development-oriented agenda, especially in the wake of infrastructure projects like the coastal road, metro expansions, and improved roads.
While no final decision has been taken, the possibility of going solo has been actively discussed in core group meetings. A senior BJP strategist said that contesting independently may offer the party a clearer narrative and freedom to project its own leadership, achievements, and roadmap for Mumbai’s future without compromise.
The party also believes that a Thackeray alliance could backfire if projected as a desperation move. BJP leaders argue that Mumbaikars now prefer clarity and governance over nostalgia or emotional appeals.
Regardless of its final call, BJP’s aggressive posture signals a fierce battle ahead for control of the BMC, a political jewel that holds not just administrative power, but also symbolic dominance over India’s financial capital.
