From 11% to 31% vote share: How the BJP took over Maharashtra’s municipal corporations
While Opposition parties have failed to expand beyond traditional urban bases over the years, the BJP has emerged as the single-largest vote gatherer across municipal corporations in Maharashtra.
In the 26 municipal corporations that went for polls the last time around – the number has now increased to 29 with the addition of a few more corporations
The BJP’s growing dominance in Maharashtra’s municipal corporations is reflected not just in the seats won, but in a steady and significant expansion of its vote base across cities over the last two rounds of civic elections. Ahead of the upcoming municipal corporation elections scheduled to be held on January 15, 2026, a comparison of aggregate vote shares from the previous two polls shows the party pulling decisively ahead of its rivals, even as traditional urban parties have either stagnated or declined.
In the 26 municipal corporations that went for polls the last time around – the number has now increased to 29 with the addition of a few more corporations – the BJP polled around 1.20 crore votes, translating into 31.30 per cent of the total vote share (February 2015–December 2018). This is a sharp rise from the 0.24 crore votes (11.59%) it secured in the earlier civic cycle in these corporations (February 2009–December 2013). The jump has been attributed to the party’s organisational strength and incumbency at the state and Centre, translating into sustained gains at the city level.
Consolidated support base in urban areas
Interestingly, in the recent Assembly elections, the BJP won 132 of the 288 seats despite securing only 26.96 per cent of the vote share, which is substantially lower than its vote share in municipal corporation elections. This discrepancy, political analysts say, can be attributed to the fact that most municipal corporations are located in urban areas, where the BJP has traditionally enjoyed a stronger presence and a more consolidated support base.
Since coming to power in Maharashtra on its own in 2014, the BJP has systematically adapted its organisation, messaging and alliances to the specific logic of municipal politics. Civic elections reward hyperlocal mobilisation, control over resources, and a strong booth-level presence, areas where the BJP has invested steadily since the mid-2010s. Unlike Assembly elections, which are shaped by statewide narratives, leadership faces and coalition arithmetic, corporation polls are fought ward by ward, contractor by contractor, and voter group by voter group.
The party’s growing dominance in Maharashtra’s municipal corporations has also been aided by the fragmentation of the Opposition, the weakening of traditional urban players such as the Congress, and the ability of the BJP to convert state and central power into local organisational strength, said a leader with one of the Opposition parties in the state. Together, these factors have helped the party build a civic footprint that is broader than most of its competitors.
Other parties struggling to hold ground
In contrast, parties that once dominated urban Maharashtra have struggled to maintain their footing. The Congress, which earlier polled 0.42 crore votes (20.45%), improved marginally in absolute numbers to 0.59 crore votes in the last corporation elections, but saw its vote share fall to 15.53 per cent, highlighting its inability to keep pace with the BJP’s expansion.
The undivided Shiv Sena, historically the most powerful force in Mumbai and several other cities, also registered a decline. From 0.30 crore votes (14.31%) in the earlier elections, the party’s tally rose in raw numbers to 0.71 crore votes, but its vote share settled at 18.49 per cent, insufficient to challenge the BJP’s growing urban footprint.
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The Nationalist Congress Party’s (NCP) performance followed a similar trajectory. While its vote count increased slightly from 0.34 crore votes (16.39%) to 0.42 crore, its vote share dropped to 11.05 per cent, reflecting erosion in key urban pockets where the BJP has steadily consolidated its presence.
Taken together, the data points to a larger shift in Maharashtra’s civic politics. While Opposition parties have either split votes among themselves or failed to expand beyond their traditional urban bases, the BJP has managed to grow both absolutely and relatively, emerging as the single-largest vote gatherer across municipal corporations.
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.
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