In a big win for the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the party has grabbed 20 out of 28 mayoral posts in Maharashtra’s municipal corporations. This comes after elections in 29 cities, with results from 28 announced so far. The BJP also won 17 deputy mayor posts. Only Bhiwandi Nizampur waits, its mayor poll is on February 20. This sweep shows the BJP’s strong hold in urban areas after winning most seats in the January 2026 civic polls.

The polls covered 29 municipal corporations (MCs), including big ones like Mumbai (BMC), Pune, Nagpur, Thane, Nashik, and Pimpri-Chinchwad. BJP-led Mahayuti alliance (BJP + Shinde Shiv Sena + Ajit NCP) took control of 25 MCs, including cash-rich BMC. BJP alone won 1,425 of 2,869 seats statewide—a clear majority in many places.

How the Mayor Elections Went

Mayors are picked from elected corporators. In 28 MCs, BJP got 20 mayors (71%). Others: Shiv Sena (Shinde faction) 3, Shiv Sena UBT 1, Congress 1, NCP 1, Bahujan Vikas Aghadi (BVA) 1, Samajwadi Party 1 (Malegaon). For deputy mayors: BJP 17, Shiv Sena 4, Congress 2, and 1 each for NCP, UBT, BVA, RPI(A), Yuva Swabhiman, Samajwadi Party.

Key wins:

• Mumbai (BMC): Mayor Ritu Tawde (BJP). BJP got 89/227 seats, alliance 118 (majority 114). Ends Thackeray’s rule after 25 years.
  
  
• Pune: Mayor Manjusha Nagpure (BJP). BJP won 110+ seats alone—unopposed in spots. Focus on roads, water.
  
  
• Nagpur: Mayor Samir Rajurkar (BJP), Deputy Rajendra Janjal (Shiv Sena-Shinde). BJP took ~100/150 wards. RSS base stays solid; general quota.
  
  
• Thane: Mayor Nita Thakre (BJP), Deputy Vilas Shinde? (Shiv Sena-Shinde). BJP majority (70+ seats); SC reservation, but alliance win. Thakre family rivalry (BJP vs UBT).
  
  
• Nashik: Mayor Himagauri Adke-Aher (BJP), Deputy Manoj Chaudhary (Shiv Sena-Shinde). BJP 72/122 seats; women’s general quota. Minister Girish Mahajan backs; Kumbh prep ahead.
  
  

Bhiwandi (90 seats, majority 46) has 10 mayoral candidates, 7 for deputy, tense contest ahead.

Reservation Lottery Sparks Row

On February 19 (or Thursday per reports), the Urban Development Department ran a lottery for mayor seats in all 29 MCs. Based on the 2011 census quotas:

• 1 ST, 3 SC (2 women SC), 8 OBC (4 women), 17 General (9 women).
  Mumbai, Navi Mumbai, Mira-Bhayandar, and Nagpur are among 15 cities getting women mayors.

Shiv Sena (UBT) cried foul, calling it “rigged” to favour rulers. They said the draw helpedthe  BJP-Shinde picks. BJP dismissed it as sour grapes after poll loss.

Nagpur: BJP’s Samir Rajurkar as Mayor

• Mayor: Samir Rajurkar (BJP).
• Deputy Mayor: Rajendra Janjal (Shiv Sena-Shinde faction).
• Details: BJP swept the Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) with around 100 of 150 wards. Rajurkar, a seasoned BJP leader, was elected unopposed or with alliance support. Nagpur (orange city, RSS base) remains a BJP stronghold. Reservations favored general category; the process was smooth.

Thane: BJP’s Nita Thakre as Mayor

• Mayor: Nita Thakre (BJP).
• Deputy Mayor: Process ongoing or Vilas Shinde (Shiv Sena-Shinde).
• Details: Thane MC was reserved for the SC category, but the BJP’s majority (over 70 seats) secured it. Thakre, a BJP corporator, takes charge amid Mahayuti control. Thakre brothers’ rivalry (BJP vs UBT) played out, with the BJP winning big.

Nashik: BJP’s Himagauri Adke (or Deepmala Kale?) as Frontrunner

• Mayor: Himagauri Adke-Aher (BJP, likely; reports mention Deepmala Kale or process).
• Deputy Mayor: Manoj Chaudhary (Shiv Sena-Shinde).
• Details: Nashik MC is reserved for the general woman category. BJP won 72 of 122 seats, a clear majority. Adke-Aher (ex-standing committee chair) leads the race, backed by Minister Girish Mahajan. Names like Deepali Kulkarni floated; final call soon. BJP eyes Kumbh Mela prep.

Background: Civic Polls Shake-Up

Polls held January 15, 2026 (results Jan 16), first in 9 years for BMC, delayed by court cases. Turnout 46-50%. BJP’s solo strategy in Pune paid off; Thackeray brothers allied vs BJP-Shinde but lost BMC. AIMIM grabbed 125 seats, mostly in Mumbai. Mahayuti won 25/29 MCs; BJP chief Chandrashekhar Bawankule hailed it “historic.”

State Election Commission data: BJP 1,372-1,425 seats statewide; Shiv Sena 394, Congress 315, UBT 149.

What It Means

BJP’s urban dominance boosts CM Devendra Fadnavis ahead of state polls. Funds control (BMC’s ₹60,000 crore budget) means more development push—roads, water, waste. Opposition warns of “one-party rule.”

New mayors face trash piles, flooding, and slums, but the BJP eyes quick wins. For Pune’s Manjusha Nagpure (elected unopposed?), It’s development time.