BJP Surges Ahead in Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad Civic Polls
The much-anticipated family reunion of the Pawar clan for the Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad municipal elections has largely failed to deliver results. Early counting trends show the Bharatiya Janata Party taking a commanding lead in both cities. These urban centers represent traditional strongholds for the Pawar family.
BJP Outperforms NCP Alliance in Key Municipal Corporations
Vote counting indicates the BJP has surged ahead of the NCP–NCP (SP) alliance led by Ajit Pawar and his uncle Sharad Pawar. The saffron party maintains leads in both the Pune Municipal Corporation and Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation. This development suggests the BJP has effectively countered the challenge posed by the supposedly united NCP factions.
The BJP's strong performance extends beyond these two cities. The party also leads in Kolhapur, Satara, Solapur, and Sangli civic bodies across western Maharashtra. This reflects a broader regional dominance for the party in these municipal elections.
Detailed Ward-Wise Trends Emerge
In Pune's 165 wards, current trends show the BJP leading in 43 seats. The Congress follows with 7 leads, while the NCP has 5 and NCP (SP) has 3. The situation appears even more decisive in Pimpri-Chinchwad's 128-member corporation, where the BJP leads in 70 wards compared to the NCP's 40.
Elsewhere in Maharashtra, the BJP shows similar strength. In the 102-member Solapur Municipal Corporation, the party leads in 60 wards. The Kolhapur civic body presents a more competitive picture, with Mahayuti partners (BJP, Shiv Sena, and NCP) ahead in 25 seats while the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi leads in 21 wards.
Mumbai Elections Show BJP-Shiv Sena Alliance Dominance
The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation elections tell a similar story. Early trends show the BJP-Shiv Sena alliance extending its lead, with the BJP emerging as the single largest party leading in 98 seats. Together, the alliance leads in 128 wards, with Shiv Sena ahead in 30.
Meanwhile, the Shiv Sena (UBT)–MNS–NCP (SP) alliance has made limited gains, leading in just 68 wards. Within this grouping, UBT leads in 59 seats, MNS in 9, and NCP (SP) has yet to establish a lead in any ward.
Background and Political Context
These elections mark a significant political moment. The BJP previously held power independently in Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad from 2017 to 2022. Civic polls faced delays due to Supreme Court directives on reservation issues, during which administrators temporarily managed municipal bodies.
For the 2026 elections, the BJP chose to contest independently against its Mahayuti partners—the NCP and Shiv Sena led by Deputy Chief Ministers Ajit Pawar and Eknath Shinde respectively. The Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT) and Congress also participated in the electoral contest.
The campaign in Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad featured sharp exchanges between Deputy CM Ajit Pawar and BJP leaders. Ajit Pawar specifically targeted local BJP leadership over alleged irregularities in municipal functioning.
Elections to 29 municipal corporations across Maharashtra occurred on January 15 after a gap of several years. Most corporations saw their terms end between 2020 and 2023, making these polls particularly significant for regional political dynamics.
