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BJP's BMC Sweep Ends Thackeray Era, Opposition "Finished" in Maharashtra

BJP leader Kirit Somaiya declared the opposition "finished" in Maharashtra following the party's sweeping victory in the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation elections. The BJP-led Mahayuti alliance secured a majority, winning 118 of 227 seats and ending the Thackeray family's nearly three-decade hold over the BMC. The BJP itself emerged as the single largest party with 89 seats, while its ally Shiv Sena (Eknath Shinde) won 29. The opposition Shiv Sena (UBT) alliance, which included the MNS, secured 71 seats combined, with Congress winning 24.

Key Points: BJP Wins BMC, Ends Thackeray Dominance | Maharashtra Polls

  • BJP-led alliance wins 25 of 29 municipal corporations
  • Ends Thackeray family's near 30-year BMC dominance
  • Mahayuti crosses majority mark in 227-seat BMC
  • BJP emerges as single largest party with 89 seats
2 min read

Opposition has lost, their party is finished in Maharashtra, says Kirit Somaiya on BMC poll outcome

BJP's Kirit Somaiya declares opposition "finished" as Mahayuti sweeps BMC polls, ending decades of Thackeray family control in Maharashtra civic elections.

"The Opposition should now accept the political reality that they have lost. Their party is finished in Maharashtra. - Kirit Somaiya"

Mumbai, January 18

Bharatiya Janata Party leader Kirit Somaiya, reacting to the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation election results, said on Sunday that the Opposition should accept the outcome and come to terms with what he described as a new political reality in Maharashtra.

Speaking to ANI, Somaiya said that the mandate reflected the people's clear rejection of Opposition parties.

"The Opposition should now accept the political reality that they have lost. Their party is finished in Maharashtra," he said.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and its Mahayuti allies swept the Maharashtra civic elections, winning 25 of 29 municipal corporations, including the prestigious Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC).

This marks a significant shift in power, ending the Thackeray family's nearly three-decade dominance over the BMC. The Mahayuti alliance crossed the majority mark of 114 in the 227-member BMC, securing 118 seats. BJP emerged as the single largest party with 89 seats. Shiv Sena (Eknath Shinde) won 29 seats.

The election was conducted on January 15, with the counting of votes carried out on January 16.

According to official figures released by the Election Commission of India (ECI) and the BMC, the BJP won 89 seats, polling 11,79,273 votes, which accounts for 21.58 per cent of the total votes cast. Among all winning candidates, the BJP's vote share stands at 45.22 per cent, making it the single largest party in the civic body.

Its alliance partner, the Shiv Sena (Eknath Shinde faction), secured 29 seats with 2,73,326 votes, translating into 5.00 per cent of the total vote share. Together, the BJP-Shiv Sena (Shinde) alliance emerged as the largest bloc in the BMC.

On the other side, the Shiv Sena (UBT), contesting in alliance with the MNS, won 65 seats. The UBT-led Sena polled 7,17,736 votes, accounting for 13.13 per cent of the total votes cast. The MNS added 6 seats to the alliance tally, with 74,946 votes and a 1.37 per cent vote share. The Indian National Congress (INC) secured 24 seats, polling 2,42,646 votes, which represents 4.44 per cent of the total vote share.

Among other parties, the All India Majlis-e-Ittehad-ul-Muslimeen (AIMIM) won 8 seats with 68,072 votes. The Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) secured 3 seats, the Samajwadi Party won 2 seats, and the NCP (Sharadchandra Pawar) won 1 seat.

- ANI

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Reader Comments

P
Priya S
While the results are decisive, saying the opposition is "finished" is a bit much. Democracy needs a strong opposition. Congress and UBT still have a significant vote share. They need to regroup and present a better vision, not disappear.
A
Arjun K
BMC was synonymous with the Thackeray name for so long. This is a historic shift. Hope the new administration tackles Mumbai's real issues: potholes, flooding, and affordable housing. No more excuses now.
S
Sarah B
As an observer, the numbers are fascinating. BJP is the single largest party but not a majority on its own. The alliance politics will be crucial for smooth governance. The real test is delivering on promises.
M
Meera T
Victory speeches should be gracious. The people have spoken, yes, but humility is a virtue. The mandate is to work for Mumbaikars, not to mock the defeated. Let's see if the city's condition improves in the next two years.
V
Vikram M
Finally! Maybe now we will get a corruption-free BMC. The old system had become stagnant. Time for new energy and transparency in our city's administration. Jai Maharashtra! 🙏

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