Sat Jan 17 18:30:51 UTC 2026: ### BJP Claims Decisive Mandate in BMC Elections Despite Contesting Fewer Seats

The Story:
On Saturday, Devendra Fadnavis asserted that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) secured a 45% vote share in the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections, which constitutes a clear mandate. He emphasized that despite contesting fewer seats than the Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) faction, the BJP’s vote tally surpassed theirs.

Key Points:

  • The BJP attained a 45% vote share in the BMC elections.
  • Devendra Fadnavis considers this a decisive mandate.
  • The BJP contested fewer seats than Shiv Sena (UBT).
  • The BJP’s overall vote count exceeded that of Shiv Sena (UBT).

Key Takeaways:

  • The BJP is attempting to frame the election results as a victory, highlighting their vote share even with fewer contested seats.
  • The statement suggests an ongoing rivalry and competition for political dominance between the BJP and Shiv Sena (UBT) within the BMC.
  • Devendra Fadnavis is strategically using the vote share percentage to shape public perception of the election outcome.

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