Voting in 29 municipal corporations of Maharashtra, a political test, Mumbai BMC election turns into a battle of prestige

Voting has begun for 29 municipal corporations in Maharashtra, being seen as a mini-assembly election in state politics. Voting is underway in several cities, including Pune, Kalyan-Dombivli, Kolhapur, Nashik, and Nagpur, but the most attention is focused on the Brihan Mumbai Municipal Corporation election, which has become the most crucial political battleground.

The situation is unusual in the state's richest civic body, the Mumbai Municipal Corporation, as the battle for power is fully open for the first time after nearly 25 years of undisputed Shiv Sena rule. In this election, Uddhav Thackeray and Raj Thackeray are in the field together for the first time, making the contest not only a matter of prestige for the Thackeray family but also for the BJP-led Mahayuti.

The BJP and its ally Shiv Sena (Shinde) are in the field with full force in the BMC election, while the alliance led by Uddhav Thackeray is also putting up a tough fight. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis led the Mahayuti campaign, focusing on development and governance, while the Thackeray brothers highlighted issues like Marathi mayor, corporatization concerns, and Mumbai's identity. With voting complete, political eyes are now fixed on the results, which could write a new story in state politics.

The Mumbai Municipal Corporation has a total of 227 seats, making it the most influential corporation in the state. In the 2017 elections, Shiv Sena had won the mayor's post, but this time the political alignments are entirely different. The Mahayuti consists of the BJP and Shiv Sena (Shinde), while the opposition alliance includes Shiv Sena (Uddhav), Maharashtra Navnirman Sena, and the Sharad Pawar-led NCP faction. The Congress has allied with the Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi.

In neighboring cities like Thane and Kalyan-Dombivli, the Mahayuti is fighting jointly against Shiv Sena (Uddhav) and the MNS. Thane is considered a stronghold of Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, while in Kalyan-Dombivli, there is a direct contest between the alliances.

The political landscape is different in Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad. In Pune, the BJP is fighting aggressively, while in Pimpri-Chinchwad, the real contest is between the BJP and the NCP led by Ajit Pawar. Notably, both factions of the NCP led by Ajit Pawar and Sharad Pawar have come together in Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad, an unusual political scenario in the Pawar family's stronghold.

In Vidarbha and Marathwada, the BJP has adopted an aggressive strategy. In Nagpur, the party has decided to contest all 151 seats, where it faces the Congress and the NCP. In Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, there is a triangular contest between the BJP, Shiv Sena (Shinde), and Shiv Sena (Uddhav), while in some areas, the influence of the AIMIM is also visible.

In cities like Akola, Amravati, and Latur, the BJP faces a tough challenge from the Congress and the Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi. In North Maharashtra and the Khandesh region, which includes Nashik, Dhule, Jalgaon, and Jalna, the BJP is considered to be in a strong position, but the contest is ongoing with the Mahavikas Aghadi allies. In Nashik, the joint experiment of Shiv Sena (Uddhav), MNS, Congress, and Sharad Pawar's NCP faction has made the electoral scenario more complex.

In Muslim-majority cities like Malegaon, Bhiwandi, Nandurbar, and Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, the role of the Samajwadi Party and the AIMIM is considered crucial. Meanwhile, in cities like Kolhapur, Ichalkaranji, Amravati, and Ahmednagar, the role of local leaders, regional alliances, and independent candidates could be important in determining the results.