Daijiworld Media Network - Mumbai
Mumbai, Jan 18: Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Saturday said the BJP’s 45 per cent vote share in the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections reflected a decisive mandate, noting that the party secured more seats than Shiv Sena (UBT) despite contesting fewer wards.
Addressing BJP workers a day after the BJP–Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena alliance won 118 of the 227 seats, Fadnavis said comparisons with the 2017 BMC polls were misleading. “In 2017, we contested all 227 seats and won 82. This time, we contested only 135 seats and still won 89. That clearly shows our strength,” he said.
The chief minister pointed out that while the BJP polled 45 per cent of the votes, the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT), which contested around 30 more seats, secured a 27 per cent vote share. “This clearly reflects the strong mandate and support we have received from the people of Mumbai,” he said, calling it a “very happy moment” for the party.
Fadnavis said it had long been the BJP’s dream to emerge as the single largest party in Mumbai after building its organisation in the city. He recalled that the BJP had topped the Mumbai assembly polls in 2014, 2019 and 2024, and narrowly missed the top position in the 2017 BMC elections by just two seats.
“We have realised our strength, and people have supported our development agenda. In several constituencies, we lost by very thin margins. Otherwise, we could have crossed the 100-seat mark,” he said.
Stating that no party had won 89 seats in the previous three BMC elections, Fadnavis said the BJP-Shiv Sena alliance secured a clear majority despite the Shinde-led Sena losing some seats by narrow margins.
“We have won in slums, high-rise buildings, Koliwadas and chawls. People from different linguistic backgrounds have supported us. This is a victory of Team Mumbai,” he said.
The chief minister said his government aims to make Mumbai a world-class, clean and livable city, ensure transparent and people-centric civic administration, complete ongoing projects within the next two to three years and launch new initiatives after the Mayor is announced.