The Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) faction led by Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar has fired the first major salvo ahead of the high-stakes Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections, scheduled for 2026. In a significant move to gain early momentum, the party announced its first list of 37 candidates on Sunday, December 29, 2024. This early declaration is seen as a strategic attempt to consolidate its position in India's richest and most politically significant civic body.
Strategic Early Bird Move for Mumbai's Civic Power
The announcement, made from the party's state headquarters in Mumbai, underscores the intense preparations underway for the BMC polls. The 2026 election is particularly crucial as it will be the first major civic battle after the split in the undivided NCP and the formation of the Mahayuti alliance in Maharashtra, which includes the BJP, Shiv Sena (Shinde faction), and Ajit Pawar's NCP. By releasing a candidate list well over a year in advance, the Ajit Pawar-led faction aims to signal its organizational readiness and put its house in order, giving candidates ample time to connect with voters in their respective wards.
The list features a mix of seasoned corporators and fresh faces, indicating a blend of experience and renewal. While the party has not yet disclosed the specific ward numbers for these candidates, the sheer number of names announced this early highlights the faction's ambition to contest a substantial number of the BMC's 227 seats. The move is also calculated to boost the morale of the party cadre and send a clear message to alliance partners about its intended share of seats in the upcoming seat-sharing negotiations.
Navigating Alliance Dynamics and Internal Challenges
This early list announcement throws down the gauntlet within the complex web of Maharashtra's ruling alliance. The BMC has traditionally been a stronghold of the Shiv Sena in its various avatars. Now, with the Shiv Sena itself split and Ajit Pawar's NCP as a new entrant in the ruling coalition, the seat-sharing formula for the BMC polls is expected to be a delicate and contentious process. By declaring its candidates early, the NCP faction is attempting to stake its claim and establish a strong bargaining position, potentially aiming to secure more seats than might be offered later.
Furthermore, this list is a direct challenge to the rival NCP faction led by Sharad Pawar. The battle for the party's legacy and symbol is ongoing, and demonstrating active preparation for a key election like the BMC polls is a vital part of establishing ground-level supremacy. The list also serves to rally the party's Mumbai unit, which has seen defections and uncertainty since the split. A clear candidate list helps anchor local workers and provides a focal point for campaigning activities.
Road to the 2026 BMC Battle
The BMC, with an annual budget larger than many Indian states, is a prized political trophy. The 2026 elections are shaping up to be a multi-cornered contest with the Mahayuti alliance (BJP, Shinde Sena, Ajit Pawar NCP) pitted against the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) constituents—the Shiv Sena (UBT), Congress, and Sharad Pawar's NCP (SP). The electoral outcome will be a key indicator of public sentiment in the state's capital and financial nerve centre.
The Ajit Pawar-led NCP's first list of 37 candidates is just the opening act in what promises to be a long and dramatic political drama. The coming months will see other parties unveil their strategies, intense alliance negotiations, and the finalization of seat-sharing deals. This early move by the NCP ensures that the race for control of Mumbai's civic administration has well and truly begun, setting the stage for a fiercely competitive election in 2026.
