In a significant electoral outcome, the Shiv Sena UBT faction has clinched six out of seven corporator seats in Worli during the recent Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation polls. This result underscores the area's continued allegiance to the Uddhav Thackeray-led group. The remaining seat was captured by the rival Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena, marking a minor gain in an otherwise dominant performance.
Worli Remains a Sena Stronghold
Worli has long served as a bastion for the undivided Shiv Sena, drawing strong support from traditional Marathi voters. Many residents come from middle- and lower-middle-class backgrounds, including former mill workers who historically formed the party's core base. Over the years, this constituency has consistently delivered safe seats for the Sena in both legislative and civic elections.
Electoral Dynamics and Historical Context
The election featured direct contests between the two rival Sena factions in five of the seven wards. Since 2014, Worli has produced two Mumbai mayors and one deputy mayor, highlighting its political significance. Between 2017 and 2022, all seven corporator seats in Worli were held by the undivided Shiv Sena. Following the party split, three sitting corporators switched allegiance to the Shinde faction.
Election data reveals that Shiv Sena UBT retained all but one seat in Worli during this election cycle. The sole seat won by the Shinde faction emerged from a multi-cornered contest. Candidates from the Maharashtra Navnirman Party and the Nationalist Congress Party were also defeated in that ward.
Reactions and Broader Implications
Former Mumbai mayor Kishori Pednekar commented on the results, stating that the verdict reaffirmed public faith in democratic processes. Pednekar emphasized that voters have clearly distinguished between genuine party loyalists and those perceived as defectors. This statement reflects the intense political rivalry shaping Mumbai's civic landscape.
The Worli civic constituency comprises seven corporator wards numbered 193 to 199. The outcome here is often viewed as a barometer for broader political trends within Mumbai. As the BMC polls conclude, analysts will closely watch how these results influence future alliances and strategies among Maharashtra's political parties.
