2026 Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation election

The 2026 Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation election took place on 15 January 2026 to elect members to the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai, the second largest city in India. Voting lasted one day and the results were released on 16 January.

The Bharatiya Janata Party-led Maha Yuti alliance secured a simple majority. The BJP emerged as the single largest party winning 89 seats on its own. Following the elections, Ritu Tawde of the BJP was elected as the Mayor of Mumbai.

Background

Four-member ward system (except BMC)

The Maharashtra government implemented a four-member ward system for most municipal corporations in the state, with the exception of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC). While the ruling parties stated that the move would strengthen democracy, the opposition expressed concerns about delays in civic elections and questioned why the administration had not approached the court to expedite the election process.

Updates on BMC ward boundaries

Source:

• Rectified boundaries: The BMC submitted a final draft of revised boundaries for its 227 electoral wards to the State Election Commission (SEC). Approximately 20–25% of ward boundaries were modified, affecting around 60 wards.

• Reasons for changes:
  • Updates were made based on additions and deletions in voter lists.
  • Boundary changes reflected population shifts caused by redevelopment, infrastructure projects, and slum rehabilitation schemes.

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation has 24 administrative wards, which are further divided into 227 electoral wards (constituencies) for elections. Each ward has its own officer responsible for local administration and services. The ward boundaries were redrawn in early 2025.

Process of delimitation

• Directives from SEC: In August, the State Election Commission instructed municipal corporations to begin the delimitation process for ward boundaries.

• Criteria for changes:
  • Adjustments were based on population changes reflected in updated census data.
  • Boundary modifications were triggered when a constituency's population changed by more than 10%.

• Public input: After approval of the draft by the SEC, suggestions and objections from the public were invited.

Population and wards

• Population basis: Each ward is designed to have approximately 54,000 residents. Adjustments accounted for population growth in suburban areas and a decline in the island city.

• Impact on corporators: Delimitation resulted in the division of some suburban wards into four parts, affecting representation.

Schedule

Ward Structure Event

Poll Event

Parties and alliances

Candidates

Exit polls

Result

Results by alliance or party

Results by ward

Mayor & Deputy Mayor Election

The Mayor and Deputy Mayor selection for the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) in 2026 marked the end of the Shiv Sena (UBT)'s (erstwhile undivided Shiv Sena) 25-year dominance over the civic body, with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) getting the mayor’s post for the first time in over four decades.

Mayor

• Ritu Tawde (BJP), corporator from Ward 132, was selected as the mayoral candidate of the ruling Mahayuti alliance.
• She was elected unopposed, after the Shiv Sena (UBT) decided not to field a challenger.
• The mayor’s post was reserved for a woman candidate from the open category through a lottery system.

Deputy Mayor

• Sanjay Shankar Ghadi (Shiv Sena – Shinde faction), corporator from Ward 5, was chosen as the deputy mayoral candidate.

• Ghadi will serve as Deputy Mayor for 15 months, with the Shiv Sena planning to rotate the post among its corporators.

• The BJP-led Mahayuti alliance secured a combined strength of 118 corporators, crossing the halfway mark of 114.

Election Schedule

• The Mumbai mayoral election was scheduled for 11 February 2026, the last date for withdrawal of nominations.

Significance

• Ritu Tawde’s election makes her the first BJP Mayor of Mumbai in 44 years.
• The outcome ended the Shiv Sena (UBT)’s (erstwhile undivided Shiv Sena) uninterrupted control of the mayor’s post since 1997.

See also

• 2026 elections in India
• Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation

Notes

References

External links

• State Election Commission Maharashtra Official Website