BJP-Shinde combination set for clear BMC win as exit polls dampen Thackeray reunion push

By Admin

16 Jan, 2026

Exit polls from multiple agencies have projected a decisive advantage for the BJP–Shiv Sena (Eknath Shinde) alliance in the high-stakes elections to the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation, indicating that the much-publicised reunion of the Thackeray cousins failed to significantly shift voter sentiment in Mumbai.

Exit polls signal comfortable majority

According to projections by Axis My India, JVC and the Sakal newspaper group, the alliance between Bharatiya Janata Party and the Shiv Sena faction led by Eknath Shinde is expected to comfortably cross the majority mark in the 227-member Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation. Axis My India has forecast 131 to 151 seats for the ruling combine, JVC has projected 138 seats, while the Sakal group estimates 119 seats for the alliance.

In contrast, the combine of the Shiv Sena led by Uddhav Thackeray and the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena headed by Raj Thackeray is projected to secure only 56 to 68 seats, with an estimated vote share of around 32 per cent compared to 42 per cent for the BJP–Shinde alliance.

Thackeray reunion falls short

The Thackeray cousins fought the civic elections together for the first time in nearly two decades, campaigning strongly on a “Maratha pride” plank and framing the contest as one between the “Marathi Manoos and outsiders”. While exit poll trends suggest that the alliance managed to consolidate a section of Marathi voters, the numbers appear insufficient to challenge the ruling combine’s dominance across Mumbai’s wards.

Congress and NCP performance

The Congress, a constituent of the Opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi, chose to contest the BMC elections independently and is projected to win between 12 and 16 seats with a vote share of about 13 per cent. The Ajit Pawar-led NCP, part of the ruling Mahayuti alliance, also contested separately. Meanwhile, exit poll projections for Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad municipal corporations were not available at the time of reporting.

BJP eyes mayor’s post

Elections to the BMC and other municipal corporations had been pending since 2022. The undivided Shiv Sena had historically dominated the cash-rich civic body. In the 2017 elections, the BJP and the then-united Shiv Sena contested together, with the Sena emerging as the single largest party. If the current exit poll projections translate into actual results, the BJP could secure the BMC mayor’s post for the first time, having contested 137 seats compared to the Shiv Sena (Shinde)’s 90.

Allegations of voting irregularities

Polling on Thursday was marked by allegations of electoral malpractice from the Thackeray cousins’ alliance. Uddhav and Raj Thackeray alleged that voters at several booths were marked with ordinary ink instead of indelible ink, raising concerns of repeat voting. Raj Thackeray publicly questioned whether voters were being allowed to wipe off ink and cast votes again.

Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis rejected these allegations, while the state election commission clarified that erasing ink and attempting to vote again is an electoral offence and that adequate safeguards were in place. The commission maintained that wiping ink alone would not allow a second vote.

Similar concerns were raised by Supriya Sule, who alleged EVM-related malfunctions and questioned whether such practices could lead to bogus voting.

Results awaited

Counting for the BMC and 28 other municipal corporations across Maharashtra is scheduled for Friday. If exit poll projections hold, the results could significantly reshape Mumbai’s civic power structure, marking a historic breakthrough for the BJP in the country’s richest municipal body.