Maharashtra Loss: Congress’ Stance Paves Way for BJP Victory

New Delhi: In the Maharashtra municipal corporation elections, the BJP emerged victorious, benefiting from Congress’ decision not to align with the India Unity alliance. After the Lok Sabha elections, Congress hesitated to move forward with the alliance and adopted a similar approach in Maharashtra. Instead of joining forces with opposition factions of the Mahavikas Aghadi, Sharad Pawar’s NCP or Uddhav Thackeray’s Shiv Sena, Congress chose to contest independently. Although it eventually allied with Prakash Ambedkar’s Bahujan Vikas Aghadi, this move came too late to prevent a historic defeat.

The setback is partly attributed to mismanagement by two senior leaders from Kerala: Ramesh Chennithala, AICC General Secretary overseeing the Maharashtra unit, and KC Venugopal, responsible for organisational supervision. Both bear responsibility for the severe losses. Post-UP elections, Maharashtra, home to the second-largest number of Lok Sabha seats, has seen Congress strategies repeatedly fail, as the party struggled to counter BJP’s polarising politics.

Across 29 municipal corporations, including Mumbai, there were 2,869 wards. Congress won only 324 seats, down from 431 in 2017 and 614 in 2012. BJP secured 1,425 wards, more than four times Congress’ tally. Congress achieved a majority only in Latur and emerged as the largest single party in Chandrapur, Bhiwandi–Nizampur, and Kolhapur corporations. However, it lost several strongholds, including Malegaon and Solapur, and failed to win a single ward in Thane, Navi Mumbai, Dhule, Jalgaon, Pimpri-Chinchwad, and Ichalkaranji.

Shinde Faction Moves Councillors to Hotels

In Mumbai, 29 councillors of the Shiv Sena (Shinde faction) were moved to a luxury hotel ahead of the mayoral election. With BJP winning 89 seats, support from the Shinde faction is crucial for securing the mayoral post. “If it is God’s will, our party’s mayor will be in Mumbai,” said Uddhav Thackeray. Shiv Sena holds 65 seats, and MNS 6.

Historic Fall in Mumbai

Congress’ continued losses in the Lok Sabha elections translated into a disastrous municipal outcome. The Indian National Congress, which held its formation meeting on December 28, 1885, at Gokuldas Tejpal Sanskrit College in Mumbai, has historically been the city’s largest political force. In the latest municipal polls, Congress won just 24 of the 227 seats, the largest defeat in its history in its founding city. For comparison, it held 111 seats in 1992, 71 in 2007, 51 in 2012, and 31 in 2017.

Shiv Sena had been the largest single party in 1997 with 103 seats, while Congress trailed with 49. Congress remained the second-largest party behind Shiv Sena with 61 seats in 2002, 71 in 2007, and 52 in 2012. In 2017, BJP overtook Congress with 82 seats, becoming the second-largest party. Now, with 89 seats, BJP leads, while Congress falls to fourth place behind both Shiv Sena factions.