Sun Jan 18 22:57:31 UTC 2026: ### Headline: BJP-Shiv Sena Alliance Claims Victory in Mumbai Civic Polls, Shinde Promises Mahayuti Mayor

The Story:

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena alliance secured a narrow majority in the recent Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections. Following the victory, Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde asserted that Mumbai will have a Mayor from the Mahayuti alliance. The newly-elected Shiv Sena corporators were moved to a hotel, a decision that stirred speculation, but Shinde defended it as a platform for interaction. This victory is seen as a significant development ahead of upcoming Lok Sabha and Vidhan Sabha elections, with Shinde urging the corporators to focus on development and serve the citizens.

Key Points:

  • The BJP-Shiv Sena alliance secured a narrow majority in the 227-member BMC elections.
  • The BJP won 89 seats, while the Shinde-led Shiv Sena secured 29 seats.
  • Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT) won 65 seats, and MNS won 6 seats.
  • Eknath Shinde declared that Mumbai will have a Mahayuti Mayor and promised the same for neighbouring cities like Kalyan-Dombivli.
  • Newly-elected Shiv Sena corporators were moved to a hotel for interaction, which Shinde defended.
  • Shinde urged corporators to prepare ward-specific development plans and cautioned them against tarnishing the party’s image.

Key Takeaways:

  • The BJP-Shiv Sena alliance’s victory in the BMC elections marks a significant win for the Mahayuti coalition in Mumbai.
  • Eknath Shinde is positioning his faction of Shiv Sena as a development-oriented force, contrasting it with Uddhav Thackeray’s Shiv Sena (UBT).
  • The move to house corporators in a hotel suggests concerns about potential defections or internal conflicts within the alliance, though Shinde denies this.
  • The election result is viewed as an important indicator for upcoming Lok Sabha and Vidhan Sabha elections in Maharashtra.
  • The focus on “pagdi-free Mumbai” indicates a commitment to addressing long-standing urban redevelopment issues.

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