Sena (UBT) and MNS Likely to Divide BMC Seats 50-50 in Strongholds, 60-40 Elsewhere

The Shiv Sena (UBT), led by Uddhav Thackeray, and the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS), headed by Raj Thackeray, are poised to form an alliance for the upcoming Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections, with a proposed seat-sharing formula of 50-50 in their Mumbai strongholds and 60-40 in other areas, party sources revealed. The formal announcement of this alliance, expected around Diwali, comes as the Supreme Court has mandated the Maharashtra State Election Commission to hold long-delayed local body polls by January 31, 2026.

In Mumbai’s 227 civic wards, the two parties plan to split seats equally in key Marathi-speaking strongholds like Dadar-Mahim, Lalbaug-Parel-Sewree, Vikhroli, Dindoshi, Ghatkopar West, Dahisar, and Bhandup, where both enjoy significant influence. For the remaining wards, Sena (UBT) is likely to contest 60% of the seats (approximately 147), while MNS would field candidates in 40% (around 80), according to an MNS leader. Muslim-dominated wards, such as those in Mahim, Byculla, and parts of Jogeshwari, are expected to be allocated to Sena (UBT) due to its stronger voter base in these areas.

The BMC, with a 2025-26 budget exceeding Rs 74,000 crore, is India’s richest civic body, making the elections a high-stakes contest following the 2024 Maharashtra assembly polls, where Sena (UBT) won only 20 of 95 seats and MNS drew a blank. The alliance marks a significant reconciliation between the Thackeray cousins, whose strained relationship has kept them apart for nearly two decades. The undivided Shiv Sena controlled the BMC for over 20 years until its 2022 split, after which Eknath Shinde’s faction secured the party’s name and symbol.

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Both parties are preparing for the polls, with Uddhav directing Sena (UBT) functionaries to compile a list of winnable seats, while MNS has expressed reluctance to align with the Congress-led Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA). The alliance, if formalized, will also extend to other civic bodies in Thane, Nashik, and Kalyan-Dombivli, based on each party’s regional strength. As Mumbai gears up for the elections, the Sena (UBT)-MNS partnership aims to challenge the ruling Mahayuti alliance, led by Shinde’s Sena and the BJP.

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