Premium

Despite Marathi identity push during BMC polls, migrant representation holds steady in Mumbai civic House

Non-Marathi corporators cross one-third of BMC again, rising marginally from 76 in 2017 to 78 in 2026

4 min readMumbaiUpdated: Jan 19, 2026 01:57 PM IST

Shiv Sena shifts 29 newly elected corporators to hotel to prevent defections ahead of key civic decisions. (Express File Photo: Sankhadeep Banerjee)

In the run-up to the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation elections, the familiar debate over Marathi versus non-Marathi identity returned to the campaign trail. Appeals to Marathi pride featured prominently in speeches by the Shiv Sena factions and the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena, even as other parties sought to strike a balance in a city shaped by many languages.

The results, however, underline that Mumbai’s migrant population continues to influence civic politics. Of the 227 corporators elected, 78 are of non-Marathi origin, accounting for just over one third of the House and marginally higher than the previous term, when 76 corporators were non-Marathi.

Non-Marathi presence holds steady despite identity pitch

In the 2017 BMC elections, 76 corporators were non-Marathi. The latest results show little change despite the sharper focus on linguistic identity during the campaign.

Also read | A lottery will decide Mumbai mayor, and it’ll take a week: Here’s the rule why

A party-wise break-up shows how differently political parties depend on non-Marathi voters. The Bharatiya Janata Party, the single largest party in the new House, has the biggest non-Marathi presence. Of its 89 corporators, 38 are non-Marathi, or 42.7 per cent, reflecting its strong support in linguistically mixed suburban areas.

Both factions of the Shiv Sena remain largely rooted in Marathi-speaking voters. The Uddhav Thackeray-led Sena (UBT) has 7 non-Marathi corporators among its 65 winners, while the Eknath Shinde-led Sena has 5 non-Marathi corporators out of 29. These numbers reinforce the Sena’s continued emphasis on Marathi identity.

The Indian National Congress shows a contrasting pattern. Of its 24 corporators, 16 are non-Marathi, highlighting its reliance on migrant and minority-heavy pockets. A similar trend is seen in the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen, where 7 of the 8 elected corporators are non-Marathi. The Nationalist Congress Party, which won three seats, returned only Marathi corporators.

The changing place of migrants in Mumbai’s civic politics

Non-Marathi communities once held a strong grip over the Bombay Municipal Corporation. In the decades after Independence, Gujaratis, Parsis, Marwaris, Muslims, Christians and South Indians were prominent in civic politics. Though non-Marathis made up about 58 per cent of Mumbai’s population in the 1960s, they accounted for nearly 45 per cent of corporators by the mid-1970s. Between Independence and 1968, 15 of the city’s 21 mayors were non-Marathi.

Story continues below this ad

This began to change with the rise of the Shiv Sena from the late 1960s. By building strong neighbourhood networks and mobilising Marathi voters, the Sena turned Marathi identity into a central theme of civic politics. Over time, non-Marathi representation fell steadily, touching a low of 28 per cent in 2012, even as migration to Mumbai continued.

Census data shows that while Marathi remains the most widely spoken language in Mumbai, the Hindi-speaking population has grown much faster than any other group since the 1970s. Gujarati speakers have grown more slowly, while Urdu speakers have also seen steady increases.

The political effect of this shift became clear after 2014. In the 2017 BMC elections, 76 non-Marathi corporators were elected, making up 33 per cent of the House, up from 28 per cent in 2012. The current House, with 78 non-Marathi corporators, reflects the same trend.

This rise in non-Marathi representation sharpened language-based campaigning ahead of elections, especially by parties such as the Shiv Sena and the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena. At the same time, it helped the Bharatiya Janata Party consolidate support among migrant voters, whose numbers have grown steadily.

Story continues below this ad

With the BJP in power at the Centre, the party has been more comfortable projecting itself as pro-migrant in Mumbai, even as the Sena’s earlier anti-migrant tone has softened. The BJP has also promoted more non-Marathi leaders in the city than in the past, giving migrant communities greater political confidence and visibility.

Speaking earlier to The Indian Express, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said the BJP was not on the defensive on the issue of Marathi identity.

“Since we are a pan-India party, we don’t aggressively project regional pride. In every election, they try to push emotive issues as they have nothing to counter my development agenda. We are not defensive on Marathi issues. We are batting on the front foot,” Fadnavis said.

Non-Marathi Representation in the BMC Over the Years

Year	Total Seats	Non-Marathi Corporators	Share of House
1972	140	59	42.1%
1978	140	64	45.7%
1985	170	59	34.7%
1992	221	68	30.8%
1997	221	67	30.3%
2002	227	71	31.2%
2007	227	74	32.6%
2012	227	64	28.2%
2017	227	76	33.0%
2026	227	78	34.4%

Zeeshan Shaikh

Zeeshan Shaikh is the Associate Editor who heads The Indian Express' Mumbai reporting team. He is recognized for his highly specialized Expertise in analyzing the complex dynamics of Maharashtra politics and critical minority issues, providing in-depth, nuanced, and Trustworthy reports. Expertise Senior Editorial Role: As an Associate Editor leading the Mumbai reporting team, Zeeshan Shaikh holds a position of significant Authority and journalistic responsibility at a leading national newspaper. Core Specialization: His reporting focuses intensely on two interconnected, high-impact areas: Maharashtra Politics & Urban Power Structures: Provides deep-dive analyses into political strategies, municipal elections (e.g., BMC polls), the history of alliances (e.g., Shiv Sena's shifting partners), and the changing demographics that influence civic power in Mumbai. Minority Issues and Socio-Political Trends: Excels in coverage of the Muslim community's representation in power, demographic shifts, socio-economic challenges, and the historical context of sensitive political and cultural issues (e.g., the 'Vande Mataram' debate's roots in the BMC). Investigative Depth: His articles frequently delve into the historical roots and contemporary consequences of major events, ranging from the rise of extremist groups in specific villages (e.g., Borivali-Padgha) to the long-term collapse of established political parties (e.g., Congress in Mumbai). Trustworthiness & Credibility Data-Driven Analysis: Zeeshan's work often incorporates empirical data, such as National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) statistics on arrests and convictions of minorities, or data on asset growth of politicians, grounding his reports in factual evidence. Focus on Hinterland Issues: While based in Mumbai, he maintains a wide lens, covering issues affecting the state's hinterlands, including water crises, infrastructure delays, and the plight of marginalized communities (e.g., manual scavengers). Institutional Affiliation: His senior position at The Indian Express—a publication known for its tradition of rigorous political and investigative journalism—underscores the high level of editorial vetting and Trustworthiness of his reports. He tweets @zeeshansahafi ... Read More

Stay updated with the latest - Click here to follow us on Instagram

Loading Taboola...