Maharashtra holds its breath as municipal corporation election results are set for announcement tomorrow. The state's political landscape resembles a tangled web of shifting loyalties, strategic partnerships, and independent candidates vying for power.
Polling Day Sees Slow Start in Mumbai
Voting commenced at 7:30 AM on Thursday under strict security measures throughout Mumbai. Polling stations remained open until 5:30 PM. Initial data from the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections revealed a sluggish start. Officials confirmed that only 6.98% of eligible voters had cast their ballots within the first two hours.
A spokesperson for the BMC stated the average voter turnout stood at 6.98% until 9:30 AM. Figures released by the civic body highlighted significant disparities in participation across different wards. Ward number 18 in the western suburbs recorded the highest turnout at 11.57%. In stark contrast, ward number 162 in the eastern suburbs reported the lowest participation, a mere 1.68%.
A Maze of Political Alliances Across Key Cities
The elections are defined by a complex array of party alliances and independent contests. Here is a breakdown of the key partnerships in major municipal corporations:
Mumbai Region
- BJP – Shiv Sena – RPI (Athawale) alliance
- Shiv Sena (UBT) – MNS – NCP (Sharad Pawar) alliance
- NCP (Ajit Pawar) – Independent
Pune
- BJP – RPI (Athawale) alliance
- Both NCP factions together
- Congress – Shiv Sena (UBT) – MNS alliance
Thane
- BJP – Shiv Sena alliance
- Shiv Sena (UBT) – MNS – NCP (Sharad Pawar) alliance
- NCP (Ajit Pawar) – Independent
- Congress, Vanchit – Independent
Navi Mumbai
- BJP – Independent
- Shiv Sena – Independent
- MNS – Shiv Sena (UBT) alliance
- NCP (Sharad Pawar) – Independent
- NCP (Ajit Pawar) – Independent
Kalyan–Dombivli
- BJP – Shiv Sena – RPI alliance
- Shiv Sena (UBT) – MNS alliance
- NCP (Ajit Pawar) – Independent
Mira–Bhayandar
- Shiv Sena (UBT) – MNS alliance
- BJP – Shiv Sena – NCP alliance
Vasai–Virar
- BJP – Shiv Sena alliance
- Bahujan Vikas Aghadi – MNS alliance
- NCP (Ajit Pawar)
- Congress – Independent
Ulhasnagar
- Shiv Sena – Omi Kalani – Sai Party alliance
- Congress – Shiv Sena (UBT) – MNS alliance
Bhiwandi
- BJP – Shiv Sena alliance
- Shiv Sena (UBT) – MNS alliance
- NCP (Ajit Pawar), NCP (Sharad Pawar)
- Samajwadi Party – Independent
Pimpri–Chinchwad
- BJP – RPI (Athawale) alliance
- NCP (Ajit Pawar) – NCP (Sharad Pawar) alliance
- Shiv Sena (UBT) – MNS alliance
- Shiv Sena, Congress, Vanchit – Independent
Nagpur
- BJP – Shiv Sena alliance
- Congress, Shiv Sena (UBT), NCP (Sharad Pawar), NCP (Ajit Pawar), Vanchit – Independent
Amravati
- Congress-led front
- Shiv Sena (UBT) – MNS alliance
- Shiv Sena-Prahaar alliance
- NCP (Sharad Pawar), Communist Party alliance
- Vanchit – United Forum alliance
Akola
- BJP – NCP (Ajit Pawar) alliance
- Congress – NCP (Sharad Pawar)
- Shiv Sena (UBT) – MNS
- Shiv Sena – Independent
- Vanchit, AIMIM, AAP – Independent
Chandrapur
- BJP – Shiv Sena alliance
- Shiv Sena (UBT) – Vanchit alliance
- Congress, NCP (Ajit Pawar), NCP (Sharad Pawar), BSP, AAP – Independent
Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar
- Congress-Vanchit alliance
- BJP, Shiv Sena, Shiv Sena (UBT), AIMIM, NCP - Independent
Nanded
- Shiv Sena (UBT) – MNS – NCP (Sharad Pawar) independent
- Shiv Sena – NCP (Ajit Pawar) alliance (16 seats)
- Congress-Vanchit alliance
Latur
- Congress – Vanchit alliance
- BJP, both NCP factions, both Sena factions – Independent
Parbhani
- Congress – Shiv Sena (UBT) alliance
- NCP (Ajit Pawar) – NCP (Sharad Pawar) alliance
- BJP, Shiv Sena – Independent
Jalna
- NCP (Ajit Pawar) – MNS alliance
- Congress- Shiv Sena (UBT)- NCP (SP) alliance
- Shiv Sena – Independent
- BJP- Independent
Nashik
- Shiv Sena (UBT) – MNS – NCP (Sharad Pawar) – Congress alliance
- Shiv Sena – NCP alliance
- BJP – Independent
Jalgaon
- BJP – ShivSena – NCP (Ajit Pawar) alliance
- Shiv Sena (UBT) – NCP (Sharad Pawar) alliance
- Congress – Vanchit alliance
Dhule
- BJP – Independent
- Shiv Sena – NCP (Ajit Pawar) Alliance
- Shiv Sena (UBT) – NCP (Sharad Pawar) – Congress – MNS alliance
- AIMIM – Independent
Malegaon
- BJP, Shiv Sena, Congress, NCP (Ajit Pawar)
- NCP (Sharad Pawar), AIMIM, Indian Secular Largest Assembly of Maharashtra Party (Islam) – All Independent
Kolhapur
- BJP – Shiv Sena – NCP (Ajit Pawar) – ROI (Kawade) alliance
- Congress – Shiv Sena (UBT) alliance
- NCP (Sharad Pawar) – Vanchit – AAP alliance
Solapur
- Shiv Sena – NCP alliance
- Congress – NCP (Sharad Pawar) – Shiv Sena (UBT) alliance
- BJP – Independent
Sangli–Miraj–Kupwad
- BJP – Independent
- Congress – NCP (SP) alliance
- Shiv Sena (UBT) – MNS alliance
- NCP – Independent
Ichalkaranji
- BJP – Shiv Sena – NCP (Ajit Pawar) alliance
- Congress – MNS – NCP (Sharad Pawar) alliance
- Vanchit – AAP alliance
This intricate network of alliances underscores the fragmented and highly competitive nature of Maharashtra's municipal politics. All eyes are now on tomorrow's results, which will reveal how these strategies played out at the ballot box.
