The Bahujan Vikas Aghadi, under the leadership of Hitendra Thakur, delivered a powerful performance in the Vasai Virar City Municipal Corporation elections. They captured an impressive 70 out of the total 115 seats. This victory marks a significant turnaround for the regional party.
Thakur Duo Outmaneuvers Mahayuti Alliance
Hitendra Thakur and his son Kshitij successfully countered the BJP-led Mahayuti coalition. This outcome is particularly notable because the alliance had performed strongly in the 2024 assembly elections for the region. Just last year, the BJP secured the Vasai and Nalasopara assembly seats. Their ally, the Shinde-led Shiv Sena, won the Boisar seat, which includes areas within the VVMC's jurisdiction.
Many political observers anticipated that the Mahayuti's state-level success would translate into a win in these local body polls. That prediction did not materialize. However, the BJP itself did see substantial growth in its municipal presence.
BJP's Seat Share Shows Dramatic Increase
The Bharatiya Janata Party contested 88 seats in this election. They managed to win 43 of them. This is a massive jump from their performance in the 2015 civic polls, where they secured only a single seat. The Shiv Sena, fighting on 27 seats, could only manage to win one.
Hitendra Thakur attributed the BVA's success to the hard work of party cadres. He also suggested that some confusion at polling stations may have cost them additional votes. "Had there been no confusion at the booths, we would have got more votes," Thakur stated after the results were declared.
BVA's Long-Standing Dominance in the Region
The Thakur family's Bahujan Vikas Aaghadi has been a dominant political force in the Vasai-Virar area for decades. Their influence stretches back to the early 1990s at the assembly level. Since the formation of the municipal corporation in 2010, they have controlled it. In the inaugural 2010 civic polls, the BVA won 55 out of 89 seats. They followed that with a landslide in 2015, securing 105 of the 115 seats.
BJP Leaders React to the Results
Dr. Hemant Savara, the BJP MP from Palghar, actively campaigned in Vasai for the municipal elections. He acknowledged that the final numbers fell short of the party's expectations. "But that we went from 1 seat in 2015 to 43 seats today is an important benchmark," Savara remarked. He added that even without controlling the mayor's post, the BJP would act as a strong opposition to fulfill its promises to voters.
Rajan Naik, the BJP MLA from Nalasopara, credited the party's ground-level work for the improved tally. "It was due to our work on the ground that helped us reach 43 seats," Naik said. He also accused the BVA of running an effective but negative campaign during the election.
Independent Candidates and Former Mayor Face Defeat
The election results brought disappointment for independent candidates as well. Not a single independent candidate managed to win a seat. In a closely watched contest, former Vasai-Virar Mayor Rupesh Jadhav lost his seat by a narrow margin of just 74 votes.
