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From Dahisar to Colaba: 10 Mumbai wards to watch as BMC poll campaigning heats up

From a ward where the Shiv Sena and the BJP are in a direct face-off, to another where North Indian candidates dominate the fray, here are 10 seats that will see interesting battles in the upcoming BMC election.

6 min readMumbaiJan 10, 2026 10:51 AM IST

The BJP and Congress are engaged in a tough battle in Kandivli ward.

As campaigning for the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) election, scheduled for January 15, intensifies, several of the 227 wards in the city are witnessing tough battles. Here’s a look at 10 Mumbai wards with interesting candidates, high-profile stakes, and challenging contests.

1. Ward number 5 in Dahisar

Sanjay Ghadi of the Shiv Sena (SS) vs Sujata Patekar of the Shiv Sena (UBT) vs Dr Narendra Kumar (Congress)

This ward in north Mumbai, once dominated by the undivided Shiv Sena, is set to witness a close contest between former party colleagues, known to be leaders with grassroots connections and mass support. While Ghadi and Patekar have locked horns, the Congress is playing a third front, and its ability to divide votes might be a deciding factor.

2. Ward number 23 in Kandivli

Kiran Jadhav (Maharashtra Navnirman Sena) vs Shivkumar Jha (BJP) vs RP Pandey (Cong) vs Murari Jha (NCP)

Amid talks of polarisation in the name of language and religion in Mumbai, this ward in Kandivli (West) has only one Marathi candidate out of the total 11, who is from the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena. All other parties have picked North Indian candidates here, considering the electorate. The BJP and Congress are engaged in a tough battle here.

Also read | Uddhav Thackeray interview: ‘BJP conspiring to push Marathis out of Mumbai … as long as I am there, they cannot capture it’

3. Ward number 45 in Malad

Nirav Barot (SS-UBT) vs Sanjay Kamble (BJP) vs Ramesh Yadav (Cong)

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This Malad (east) ward will see Nirav Barot, the son of former BJP deputy mayor, the late Ram Barot, contest for Uddhav Thackeray’s Shiv Sena (UBT). In 2017, Ram Barot had won this ward with a huge margin of over 10,000 votes. The BJP has decided to field a new face, Sanjay Kamble, this time.

4. Ward number 84 in Vile Parle

Rupali Dalvi (MNS) vs Anjali Samant (BJP)

After witnessing a fight between Abhijit Samant and Sandip Dalvi in 2017, this ward in Vile Parle will see a battle between their respective wives. The BJP had won this ward in 2017, after a division of anti-BJP votes between the Congress, then undivided Shiv Sena, and MNS. This time, the Congress and the Shiv Sena (UBT) have not fielded any candidate.

Also read | ‘People vote on basis of work done, not religion’: BJP’s ‘Vinod Bhaiya’ eyes second term

5. Ward number 165 in Kurla

Ashraf Azmi (Cong) vs Kaptan Malik (NCP) vs Rupesh Pawar (BJP)

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Two well-known Muslim faces in Mumbai will fight against each other in this ward in Kurla. Azmi had won the ward in 2017, defeating the BJP candidate. However, with Malik deciding to move from his earlier ward, 170, the battle will be tougher for Azmi this year. The BJP eyes to gain from the division of votes between the two.

6. Ward number 167 in Kurla

Saman Azmi (Cong) vs Suvarna More (SS-UBT) vs Tabassum Rashid (SP)

This is the only ward in Mumbai where none of the major parties of the ruling Mahayuti have fielded a candidate, essentially meaning an already confirmed seat to the Opposition. The Congress had won this seat in Kurla in 2017, defeating the Samajwadi Party.

7. Ward number 173 in Sion

Puja Kamble (SS) vs Shilpa Keluskar (BJP) vs Pranita Waghdhare (SS-UBT)

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The ward in Sion is one of two in Mumbai where Mahayuti’s Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena and the BJP are fighting against each other. The BJP had alleged that its candidate used a colour photocopy of an ‘A&B form’ which denotes the party candidate and the matter went to the court. But ultimately, the party did not order Shilpa Keluskar to withdraw. Now, it is a three-corner fight in a ward known to be a Thackeray bastion.

8. Ward number 194 in Prabhadevi

Nishikant Shinde (SS-UBT) vs Samadhan Sarvankar (SS)

The prestigious battle of Prabhadevi turned into a controversy after the Raj Thackeray-led MNS leader Santosh Dhuri, a candidate in 2017, decided to quit and join the BJP. Both key candidates come from political lineage, as Nishikant Shinde is a brother of Shiv Sena (UBT) MLA Sunil Shinde, and Samadhan Sarvankar is a son of former Shiv Sena MLA Sada Sarvankar. A battle in an area considered to be a core Sena bastion is set to be a tough one.

Also read | BMC Elections 2026 Candidates List: Full list of 1,700 candidates contesting Mumbai civic polls

9. Ward number 206 in Sewri

Sachin Padval (SS-UBT) vs Nana Ambole (SS)

Another Sena bastion in Sewri is witnessing a battle between two experienced leaders and former colleagues in the undivided Shiv Sena. Padval won this seat in 2017 and is fighting for another win. The Sena led by Eknath Shinde has brought experienced former corporator Ambole, in a bid to get the sympathy of Marathi voters.

10. Ward number 225 in Colaba

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Ajinkya Dhatrak (SS-UBT) vs Harshita Narvekar (BJP) vs Sujata Sanap (SS)

Already in news for being one of the three seats given to family members of Assembly speaker Rahul Narvekar, ward 225 in Colaba has witnessed a break in the Mahayuti alliance with the Shinde-led Sena fighting against the BJP. While the Congress decided not to field a candidate from here, the Shiv Sena (UBT) has given a ticket to former MLA Ashok Dhatrak’s son Ajinkya. Shinde Sena’s Sujata Sanap had won the seat in 2017, and the party refused to sacrifice it to Narvekar’s sister-in-law, Harshita.

Alok Deshpande

Alok Deshpande is a Special Correspondent with The Indian Express' Mumbai bureau, recognized for his focused and authoritative reporting on governance, politics, and the socio-economic dynamics of Maharashtra's hinterlands. His unique academic background in Geology and early work in the water sector provides a specialized layer of Expertise to his reporting on resource and environmental issues. Expertise Current Role: Special Correspondent, The Indian Express, Mumbai. Core Authority: Alok provides detailed coverage of Maharashtra politics and governance, with a particular emphasis on how policies and power struggles affect the rural and semi-urban areas (the 'hinterlands'). Key Coverage Areas: His reports frequently focus on high-stakes administrative and political topics, including: State Assembly Proceedings: In-depth reporting on the Legislative Assembly, covering ministerial statements, legislative debates, and inter-party conflict within the ruling Mahayuti alliance. Policy & Finance: Coverage of state finances, including supplementary budget demands, fiscal deficits, and major government schemes (e.g., Jal Jeevan Mission, Ladki Bahin Yojana). Rural and Social Issues: Reports on critical health issues (e.g., child deaths in districts), human-animal conflict (leopard attacks, stray dogs), and agrarian concerns (e.g., farmer suicides). Local and Urban Governance: Covers major announcements regarding urban development (e.g., BMC's OC amnesty scheme, pagdi system push) and local body elections, including political defections and alliance splits. Unique Credentials & Trustworthiness Academic Specialization: Holds a Post-graduate degree in Geology. This background gives him a foundational understanding of natural resources, which directly informs his reporting on environment, water, and infrastructure projects. Early Professional Experience: His shift to journalism came after working with an NGO focused on the water sector. This practical experience strengthens his Expertise in critical areas like water management and rural development, as evidenced by his reporting on the Jal Jeevan Mission. Journalism Training: An alumnus of the prestigious Asian College of Journalism (ACJ), Chennai, confirming his formal training and commitment to rigorous journalistic standards. Alok Deshpande's rare combination of scientific education, non-profit sector experience, and deep political reporting makes him a highly trusted and authoritative voice on the governance and ground realities of Maharashtra. He tweets @alokdesh ... Read More

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